Beats Antique
on November 1st at the Vic, Chicago was unlike any
show I have ever seen. Nestled in downtown Chicago, the Vic is a
pretty historic venue to see a show. It has one balcony and a
large dance floor. It was a perfect place to see such an amazing
and eclectic show.

Beats Antique just dropped a new album called A Thousand
Faces: Part One. This is the first of a two part album that
has brought a new intensely tribal sound and a new light show
that makes for a very impressive live show and a very
interesting listening experience. The light show features
literally a thousand faces of the people the band knows, as well
as a fresh set of screens and a track from Primus’ Les Claypool.
The performance is meant to take the listener on a journey.
Creators and musicians David Satori and Tommy Cappel,
along with dancer, performer and belly dance extraordinaire,
Zoe Jakes, make the perfect trio and an unforgettable live
show.

The show started with just Satori and Cappel on the stage. The
lights were projected on a series of screens as the
transcendental journey began, a tree radiated at the center of
the stage and the tribal sounds began to lull the crowd. During
the second song, dancer Zoe took the stage with an intricate
costume reminiscent of a Buddhist monk. As she danced the light
show mimicked her movements, the crowd was enticed and no one
could turn their eyes from her beauty and delicate dance. I
could see the passion in her eyes and feel the love that she had
for the moment she was in as it radiated from her energetic
dance.

As the show progressed, many dancers took the stage and told a
story of far away lands and different styles of music, mainly
eastern in influence. Soon the mood morphed, and the electronic,
dubstep-esque, sounds that are familiar to Beats Antique fans
began to surface. Zoe took the stage in a showgirl costume, and
the game show started. They picked a volunteer from the crowd
and the stage looked like a carnival. Suddenly a huge blow up
Cyclops takes the stage, and the dirty electronic sounds rattled
the theater. From what I could infer, at that moment we were
entering the underworld. As we trolled the underworld, Zoe once
again took the stage in a huge headdress made of antlers and a
dress that was inflated. She slowly guided us back to the Earth,
as her beauty flowed with her gown that glowed with blue and
purple lights, and a white and black design flowed through the
screens in the background.

The performance was like none I have seen before. It was
theatrical as well as musical. The night closed with the stage
filled with belly dancers and Middle Eastern sounds. It was
truly a unique and beautiful experience. To find more tour
dates, listen to the album, and find out more about the band
visit their website,
www.beatsantique.com.

Written by: Cassidy Maley

Edited by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Toad the Wet Sprocket is finally back and will be in
Bloomington, Indiana at the Bluebird on November 18th supporting
their first album in 16years “New Constellation”.

Since their break up in 1998, the band had played shows
occasionally, but never released a new album during that stretch
of time.

They recently returned back to the studio after they started a
fan-funded campaign on Kickstarter. Their fans raised over $260K
to help cover the production cost for the band to start working
on the new album, which was official released on October 15th.
Be sure to come out and enjoy the band live on their new tour.

It was a balmy Monday evening as a
steady stream of beautiful people entered the Vogue Theater
for a night of intricate electronica and rich, trancelike
vocals. In a crowd of people ranging from their 20s to their
50s, there were an inordinate number of couples contributing to
the even distribution of women and men. I overheard several
people citing their love for Justin Vernon’s band, Bon
Iver, as being much of their reason for checking out his
recent endeavor with Volcano Choir.

Sylvan Esso took the stage
unassumingly. Comprised of electronic musician, Nick Sanborn,
and vocalist, Amelia Meath, Sylvan Esso began their set
with Amelia’s satin, rhythmic vocals and Nick’s delicious sound
loops on “Hey Mami” and “Play it Right.” As they got into their
first track, Amelia began to dance in disjointed movements
ranging from fluid to halting, all while balancing on giant
platform heels. It didn’t take long for the crowd around me to
go from silent assessment to eager curiosity, looking up the
band’s information on their smart phones so they could be the
first to tell their friends about this great new band they just
saw.

Volcano Choir came onstage a bit
later with the group of seven arranging themselves carefully to
avoid featuring any one person too prominently. This was in
keeping with Justin Vernon’s collaborative standard as Bon Iver.
Vernon himself stood behind a podium/mixing station and never
personally addressed the crowd, deferring instead to his
band-mate to greet the audience and introduce the songs.

The
set was a gorgeous union of soaring electronica and Vernon’s
ever-haunting vocals. They played the anthemic “Byegone,” a
song that could easily find its home in the climactic scene of
an indie drama, from their album Repave. While Volcano
Choir’s music is certainly less personal than that of Bon Iver
for Justin Vernon, there is still a deep sense of emotionalism
about relationships and how one experiences the world. On
another Repave track, “Dancepack,” the repeated lyrics,
“Take note, there’s still a hole in your heart” hung in the air
and engaged the crowd in a beautiful melancholy.

One unexpected treat came when Volcano
Choir played “Woods” off of Bon Iver’s EP, Blood Bank.
Like an adult lullaby, the song speaks to the sad and lonely by
first connecting to a somber mood and slowly building into a
crescendo of soaring, hopeful vocals.

Stimulating and focused, moving and fun,
it was a perfect evening of live music.

On a
rainy Saturday night, October 5th, Consider the
Source and Ultraviolet Hippopotamus (UV Hippo) played
at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the new UV Hippo CD
Release party. The new CD dropped earlier that week and is
titled Translate. You can find more details on getting a
copy of the newest CD on their website: www.uvhippomusic.com

Bell’s Brewery is
always a great place to see a show. They open up the back room
where there is a large stage and dance floor area. Behind the
dance floor is the bar with every unique Bell’s beer creation on
tap. If you have never experienced this place, love good beer,
good people, and good music, I suggest you give it a try.

Consider the Source
opened for UV Hippo that evening. I had never seen this band
before, and I have to say
they might become one of my newest favorites. The three piece
band is from New York City, and they bring a very unique sound.
Lead guitarist Gabriel Marin on the fretless double
guitar brings much of the uniqueness to their sounds. The sounds
he makes from the double guitar are like nothing I’ve ever heard
before and create some sort of Middle-Eastern, tribal, trance,
dance music; very complex and difficult to describe. They were a
great band to start the night off right and I plan to see them
again soon.

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus
took the stage to a very enthusiastic crowd. Kalamazoo is their
hometown, and is where all of their biggest fans are. I can’t
say enough about the kindness of the people who were at this
show and live in this town. Kalamazoo has a great gathering of
people that is as big of a reason to go see UV Hippo at Bell’s
as is their great music. The highlights of the UV Hippo set for
me were “Tiny Eyes” into “Hey Tommy,” two songs off the newest
album that were accompanied by two female vocalists; this is a
side of UV Hippo I had yet to see. The extra layer of the female
voices brought out a newer, softer side of the Hippo Boys.
Another one of my favorite moments was the song called
“Medicine” about halfway through the set. This is one of my
favorite Hippo songs, which they decided to jam on for at least
ten minutes if not more. After that they went straight into
“Ruben” and called up guest trumpet player, Terrance Massey.
This is something new for UV Hippo as well; I have never seen
them play with any sort of horn section, and I loved it. I like
the new more complex sound that UV Hippo has developed with the
newest album. They stay true to their roots, but show that they
aren’t afraid to do
some
experimenting with their sound.

All-in-all the rain didn’t stop UV Hippo or any of their fans
from having a great night. As I walked out of the venue, there
were too many smiles to count. Maybe it was all the beer making
everyone so warm and fuzzy, or maybe it was the great family
atmosphere of the night, but I can say that rain or shine, I’d
repeat that night again in a heart beat. Once again, check out
UV Hippo’s newest album for purchase on their website, www.uvhippomusic.com!

Widespread
Panic brings a
swagger type attitude with them each and every night they hit
the stage. They are not necessarily cocky, but they make sure
the Jam Band nation knows that they are relevant revelers, as
capable of “havin’ a good time here today” as they always have
been. Although John Bell does not like the term “jam band” he
is well aware that is what they are. Each night they bring free
spirit mind-blowing jams with astonishing light shows that allow
fans to let loose from their daily routines. Sunday night in
Indianapolis, Indiana was no different.

Fans
swayed. Couples danced. Some even floated. Arms rose. Fans
hooted and hollered. Drinks were toasted. The fortunate fans in
the balconies or back rows of a 2013 Widespread Panic show get
the heightened experience of Paul Hoffman’s multicolor
laser beams that cover the venue walls. Widespread graced their
presence by jamming some
of
the most well-known classic tunes such as “Heroes” from the
album Ain’t Life Grand. The band would continue playing
fan favorites such as “C.Brown” and “Hatfield,” a song about
Charles Hatfield who called himself a “moisture accelerator.”
The band would also jam to the Talking Heads tune, “Papa Legba.”
Widespread Panic is not like some jam bands who tend to use
lyrics merely as a vehicle to get to a jam; there is meaning
behind their songs. This band is sometimes like a history lesson
taught through music. The band would finish the night out by
playing a hot second set that opened with “Ain’t Life Grand,”
and had highlights of “Chilly Water > Contentment Blues >
Bowlegged Woman,” and “Pilgrims”.

Do not
underestimate the talents of each member of this band, from
Jimmy Herring’s astonishing electric guitar skills to the
technical keyboards from John “JoJo” Hermann; the
thumping bass riffs of Dave Schools along with southern
twang from John Bell’s voice; and the double-team rhythms
of drummer Todd Nance and percussionist
Domingo
“Sunny” Ortiz. One knows a band is complete when they can
jam for 8 to 10 minutes on stage, communicating with one another
by the sounds of their music, working together to produce
something amazing. Widespread Panic is definitely providing fans
with a complete package, keeping them constantly coming back for
more.

Preview: Atlas Genius with supporting acts
Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr, and Family of the Year @ Bogart’s
Cincinnati, Ohio

Australia indie pop rock band Atlas Genius
came onto the American music scene two years ago with a massive
wave of buzz and popularity with their hit song “Trojans.”
Their poppy hooks and fabulous lyrics are will get stuck in
your head. Be sure to check out their recent television
performance of “If So” on CONAN.

Also appearing will be Detroit based Dale
Earnardt Jr Jr, known for their single “If You Didn’t See Me
[Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor],” and Los Angeles- based
indie band Family of the Year, recently gaining notoriety with
their hit “Hero.”

Grace
Potter & The Nocturnals ~ Live at Buskirk-Chumley Theatre,
Bloomington, IN ~ August 27, 2013

As
Grace Potter approached the crowd of the Buskirk-Chumley
Theatre Tuesday night August 27th, fans were sitting back in
their cozy little chairs. Grace made a point to get the energy
flowing real fast in the small historic theatre as she asked the
crowd to rise out of their seats. Grace made it well known
quickly that she is not your average short skirt folk singer.

Grace
and The Nocturnals
opened the night with raw energy in “Here’s to the Meantime”
followed by a Tom Petty classic, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” The
band would continue to embrace some of their musical influences
as they played more classic numbers like Hank Williams, “Devil’s
Train” and The Animals’, “The House of the Rising Sun.” “The
House of The Rising Sun” sparked the crowd even more and
practically blew the roof off the historical theatre. By this
time of the night the crowd had eased their way into the aisle
way for some foot stomping, hip shaking and arms swaying dance
off. The Nocturnals would close the first
set
with a sexual force in “Paris Oh La La” from the days of
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals album.

The
Nocturnals would close the night out with getting loud and rowdy
in “Nothing but Water I” straight into “Sweet Hands.” Grace and
her band mates never underestimate what they are capable of on
stage. The band is for real, raw, and full of energy and
continues to make people leave completely speechless!

It was a steamy evening at the
Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, KY before Edward
Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros packed the stage with their
12-member troop. Fans arrived at Iroquois Park early for the GA
show and filled the seats of the gorgeous brick and wood-beam
amphitheater. Between the band’s typical fan base and
sponsorship by Louisville’s independent radio station, WFPK,
the crowd was a
delightfully
eclectic group of people. They were a vision of brightly
colored and earth-toned clothing, retirees and college students,
couples and friends, flowered headdresses, and several girls in
cropped hairstyles similar to that formerly worn by band member,
Jade Castrinos. The stage was a riot of instruments and
splashes of color. It looked like a movie set for The Muppets’
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem ready to play for an audience
of PBS viewers.

The band came on stage and began their
psychedelic folk set with “Man on Fire” from their 2012 album
Here. Fans cheered to hear the familiar song, though front
man Alex Ebert commented as the song began that he was
nervous.He seemed less energetic than usual with his
voice sounding a bit hoarse and looking rather road-weary. He
took his wireless microphone into the crowd to sing and dance
with the fans, as though he needed to plug in and charge his
battery and they were his outlet. The band went right into
“That’s What’s Up” followed by “I Don’t Wanna
Pray.”
After the third song, Ebert addressed the crowd, letting
them know that he was exhausted and stating, “I know that’s not
what you want to hear, and I know somebody’s already Tweeting
about it.”

They played several tracks off of their
newly released album Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
while audience members sang along and danced in the aisles.
During one song, a giant paper banner made by fans stretched the
whole width of the audience and was passed back all the way to
the back rows of the amphitheater. Ebert commented that it was
a beautiful sign, and his stage energy noticeably increased. It
seemed that for all that the band continuously gives to its
fans, the fans were able to give a bit back this time. Ebert
plunged back into the crowd on fan-favorite “Janglin’”, and he
spoke about how he wished “we were all on an island together
with no cell phones,” a verbal expression of Ebert’s and the band’s
example of “living in the moment.” As he danced and sang with
his fans, wore their hats and sunglasses, and held their hands,
his spirits were uplifted. When he took the stage again, he and
the band played “Dear Believer,” a song he said they “don’t
usually play, but this is a weird-ass show anyway.” Ebert sang
the track with only an acoustic guitar for accompaniment, and
when it was finished he took a breath and stated “Thanks, that
was really special. I didn’t expect that.” It was a beautiful
moment of artist and fans truly communing through music.

The band continued playing into the
night with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose, and everyone
felt so appreciative to have been there. I know I did.

The
Locked and Reloaded Tour 2013 – Miranda Lambert and Dierks
Bentley ~ August 9, 2013 ~ Noblesville, IN at Klipsch Music
Center

Country music has always been the heart and
soul of the Midwest and there was no mistaking that last evening
at The Locked and Reloaded Tour featuring Miranda
Lambert and Dierks Bentley. The tour name sure fits these
two rising country stars.

Dierks Bentley is a Phoenix-bred
badass that makes his stage presence in a jean jacket and
trucker hat. Bentley, a headliner himself, got the crowd locked
into rowdiness real quick as he ran across the stage like a punk
rocker with an acoustic guitar. Miranda Lambert is no
longer the outsider in country music, as she has become a crowd
favorite. However, Lambert still remains as the Nashville outlaw
with a wild-girl-gone-bad image that made her famous. Lambert
reloads the crowd as soon as she walks on stage while not
carrying a shotgun but an electric guitar instead, with her band
gracing by her side.

Despite cool temperature, Bentley warmed
the night up from the start as he opened with “Am I the Only
One.” Bentley turned the runway stage into the red carpet as
women practically threw themselves onto the stage. Bentley made
his presence rapidly as he ran across stage like Johnny Ramone.
The band continued to play crowd favorites “5-1-5-0,” “Feel That
Fire’” and “Sideways.” Bentley also played an up-tempo track off
his upcoming album Riser called “I Hold On,” a song about
love, faith and family. Dierks did a tremendous job locking in
the attention of the crowd just in time for Lambert to reload
with some of her crowd favorites.

As the popular bad girl took stage the fans
turned paparazzi with cell phones snapping any possible photo
they could get. Lambert did not hesitate at all getting the
night rollin’ as she opened with an up tempo crowd favorite,
“Fastest Girl in Town.” She slung and wailed on her pink
electric guitar like Slash keeping her presence known. Lambert
would continue her night by playing crowd favorites such as
“Gunpowder and Lead, “Baggage Claim” and “Kerosene.” Lambert and
her band really gathered the crowd’s attention as they played a
classic Beatles tune, “Get Back.”

The
Locked and Reloaded Tour really set the theme for both of these
artists really well. Both artists have the wild-badass image
that got the crowd’s attention from start to end. The moment
you thought their sets were ending, both would reload and come
back around getting the crowd pumped up even more. Bentley and
Lambert are and should be household favorites in the country
music scene. Neither one should be underestimated with their
image and music lyrics.

Umphrey’s McGee/STS9-The Lawn at White River State
Park-Indianapolis, IN 8/16/13

The
Phreaks came out the night of August 16th, 2013 in
Indianapolis, Indiana to The Lawn at White River State Park.
Both STS9 and Umphrey’s McGee showed the Midwest
some love early in their tour together. The weather was perfect
and between each band’s setlist and lights, the crowd could not
have got a better show. With it only being the second date on
their tour everyone was still fresh, raging proper, and ready to
melt faces.

STS9
opened the night and did what they do best, bringing their
organic instrumental craft with a showcase of their electronica
skills creating an early evening dance party. The light boards
they brought on stage during their set made for a conversation
piece and great eye candy even when the sun was just beginning
to think to go down. Just as STS9 came out to jam the
crowd came early to match in their intensity, though the crowd
was steady throughout the venue during the first half of their
set from beginning to end; everyone was frolicking the entire
time.

By the
time Umphrey’s McGee came on stage the venue was at max
capacity. When the lights kicked on and “Believe the Lie”
belted out of Bayliss’s mouth, the hometown crowd instantly got
turned on and let the band know they were ready for whatever the
band had in store for them. The South Bend, Indiana boys brought
the sauce in the August night and the “Hurt Bird Bath”
was a nice taste of Umphrey’s past reinforcing what the fans
already knew. “Cemetery Walk I & 2”was a crunchy mid set
choice that had the Umph hand signs being thrown up through out
the crowd. The unexpected event of the night came at the end
during the encore. Dave Murphy and David Phipps both from
STS9 joined Umphrey’s for a spectacular cover of Pink Floyds
“Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1)”.

It
is an Indiana summer tradition to catch the hoosier boys that is
Umphrey’s McGee when they come to town. It was great
overhearing conversations of their fans of 15 years reminiscing
of their earlier years and how far they have come. The boys came
to Indy and showed that they are the torchbearer’s and are hard
to beat in this day and age. From their lights to their spot on
lyrics, they mean business and did not disappoint at the lawn.
Sure it is amazing seeing how far they have come in 15 years,
but what is truly amazing is what the future will hold for this
solid and hard working band.

Written
by: Tyler Muir

Photos
by: Keith Griner

Edited
by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

STS9 and
Umphrey’s McGee—The Palace Theatre—Louisville, KY—08/15/2013

On Thursday
night, August 15th, 2013 Umphrey’s McGee and Sound
Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) visited the Louisville Palace
Theatre, Louisville KY. As the night began you could see a
crowd of wonderful individuals gather and get pumped up about
going in to see the show. While everyone waited to get in and
find their seats you could just feel the excitement building.
When you walk into the beautiful Palace Theatre the sculptures
on the ceilings and walls are magnificent, and the lighting made
it appear like you were outside with the dark blue sky. The show
started off with Umphrey’s McGee taking the stage. They
set the mood with "Push the Pig" and then embarked on a very
heavy body-moving set. They also took on The Police's "Miss
Gradenko" and that really got the crowd roaring and moving in
magical ways. Umphrey’s kept the groove rolling with many more
such as “Der Bluten Kat”, “Puppet String”, “Triple Wide”, and
many more. The set for Umphrey’s was coming to a close with the
song "1348" and the crowd rumbled and roared for more. The
spectacular lighting made the set even more wonderful and made
everyone want to dance even harder. With all the happiness and
excitement going on it left you ready for more. Walking around
during the set break you could tell Umphrey’s did an amazing
job, with all the smiling faces and people still dancing around
and spreading joy. The time came for STS9 to perform and
everyone was already raging. As STS9 took the stage everything
lit up and the music started with "Ramone & Emiglio." The
fantastic high-energy set led on to “Moon Socket”, “1..2..3”,
“...And Some Are Angels”, & “Blu Mood”. The visual array led by
lighting designer Saxton Waller was exactly what was
expected, absolutely amazing. When you looked to your left you
could see folks dancing, with blissful demeanors, and that image
was mirrored when you looked to the right. The crowd’s dancing
never stopped, and mine sure didn't either. As they played
their
last song "Arigato, Kabuki" everyone cheered. When STS9 left
the stage, the crowd raged for more. Stomping their feet,
clapping, and screaming, STS9 returned to the stage for an
amazing encore. They played "Sympathy For The Devil" and "When
The Dust Settles" and the crowd was beyond ecstatic as Jake
Cinninger from Umphrey’s joined them on-stage. As hips,
feet, arms and hair whipped around it was more than joyful to
see that all in attendance really enjoyed the show.

Written by:
Halley Charllies

Photos by: Keith Griner

Edited by:
Rosemary A.W. Roberts

“HEARTBREAKER
TOUR” CAPTURES THE HEARTS OF INDIANAPOLIS on July 27th, 2013

The rain didn’t dampen the fans’ enthusiasm
at Klipsch Music Center on Tuesday night as they made
their way in to witness one of the greatest concerts I have had
the pleasure of seeing, and I am sure many will agree. The “HEARTBREAKER
TOUR” included the most fascinating women of rock history,
Ann & Nancy Wilson, who front the legendary band
Heart, along with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin
Experience.

It all came to fruition when 2013 Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame inductees Ann and Nancy Wilson first met Jason
Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, when they
performed “Stairway To Heaven” together at the Kennedy Center
Honors tribute to Led Zeppelin in December 2012. With over 6
million views of the performance on YouTube, it was decided to
take the show on the road.

The show kicked off with Jason Bonham’s
Led Zeppelin Experience commemorating his father’s legacy
with a slideshow behind them of John Bonham. Led Zeppelin is
undoubtedly one of the most innovative, influential bands in
music history laying the foundation for many to follow. Jason
Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience does the original Led Zeppelin
justice. Concert-goers were amazed at how well the band creates
the Zeppelin “vibe” pouring out the hits “Rock and Roll”, “Black
Dog”, “When the Levee Breaks” and more with an encore
performance of “Whole Lotta Love”. Vocalist
James
Dylan did a dead on Robert Plant, with Bonham in command of
the band during the entire performance from behind his drum kit.

As the sun went down over Klipsch,
headlining act Heart took the stage with an eccentric
light show. After 4 decades of touring, Ann Wilson steps
out on stage dressed from head to toe in black and opens up with
their signature song “Barracuda” with her powerful voice
radiating while her sister Nancy Wilson played out the
guitar riffs. With the crowd singing along, they went on to
perform their hits “What About Love?”, “Magic Man”, “Crazy On
You” and “These Dreams”. With her long blonde hair blowing,
Nancy took center stage and performed a solo rendition of Elton
John’s “I Need You To Turn To”.

As
Jason Bonham made his way back to the stage to join the ladies,
the crowd was wowed by 30 minutes of nothing but Zeppelin tunes,
starting out with “The Song Remains The Same”. As the duo of the
Wilson sisters and Bonham slipped into “Kashmir”, fans were
simply in amazement at the harmony this carried; some were even
brought to tears. To close out the night was a stunning
performance of the classic “Stairway To Heaven” with Ann’s
vocals owning the song, hitting every note without flaw.

In conclusion, this tour is an experience
that fans will remember for a lifetime. Ann and Nancy Wilson,
arguably two of the most influential women in rock and roll
history, still have “Heart”.

It was a
perfect summer evening at The Rathskeller Biergarten for a laid
back night of great music. This historic 19th century
Athenaeum building tucked away in the heart of downtown
Indianapolis, Indiana provided a beautiful setting for the sold
out Dr. Dog and Houndmouth concert.

The
young opening band Houndmouth from New Albany, Indiana, a
town which neighbors Louisville, Kentucky, has quickly formed a
passionate Americana sound. The set list featured material from
their recently released album From the Hills Below the City.
The song writing on the new album is straight forward and offers
an enjoyable blend of vocal harmonies between
guitarists/vocalist Matt Myers, keyboard/vocalist
Katie Toupin, Bassist/vocalist Zak Appleby, and
drummer/vocalist Shane Cody. The band seamlessly
switched lead vocals between Matt and Katie during their set. It
was easy to see how Houndmouth’s live performances have made
them crowd favorites on the festival circuit. If you have a
chance to catch them perform live make sure you don’t miss
them.

Before Dr. Dog came
onto stage, one could hear conversations about how they were the
best “unknown band” around. The Philly based band is known for
their raspy harmonies and great live performances, which are
filled with energy and charm. Tonight was no exception with
Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman sharing lead vocals
over the course of the evening.

With a deep catalogue of
songs to pull from, the show was a sampling of tracks from the
latest release Be The Void with such tracks as “These
Days,” “How Long Must I Wait,” “Vampire,” and “Lonesome”. Some
other notable tracks from the night were “Ark,” “From,” and
“Heart It Races” an Architecture In Helsinki cover which was a
crowd favorite. They also played “The Breeze,” which
the
band joked before playing “no matter how many times we play this
we still screw it up.” The band ended the fun filled night with
“Jackie Wants Black Eye” with the crowd singing along to the
lines “And we're all in it together now,
As we all fall apart;” one could really feel the
connection between the band and the packed-in crowd.

The
National with Daughter ~ August 4th, 2013 ~ Murat
Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana

The National graced Indianapolis
with an August 4th show at the Murat Theatre. In a
word, it was inspiring. The energy in the crowd was palpable
all the way up to the back rows of the balcony, where some
audience members stayed on their feet throughout the show,
dancing and playing air guitar. The rest of the crowd appeared
riveted, their full attention glued to the stage.

With his scholarly appearance and
intellectual song writing, frontman Matt Berninger
wouldn’t seem out of place instructing an English class, but to
see him pacing onstage between songs and roaring some of his
more earnest lyrics lends a violent and magnetic contrast to his
stage presence. The band’s maturity and creative intelligence
bleed through in their lush melodies and lyrics of deep human
emotionalism and unpretentious sociopolitical
commentary.
Their songs often build like a storm. Sweet instrumentation and
Berninger’s monotone voice are like a steady rain, lulling and
rhythmic. Then they intensify into a thundering frenzy of
horns, cymbals, and belted-out vocals.

The National played a perfect selection
of songs from their catalogue including several tracks from
their newest album Trouble Will Find Me. They played
“Don’t Swallow the Cap,” “Pink Rabbits,” and “I Need My Girl”
from the new album and many of their standard crowd favorites
including “Secret Meeting,” “Squallor Victoria,” “Conversation
16,” “Fake Empire,” and “Baby We’ll Be Fine.” Their encore set
was brilliant with Berninger plunging far into the crowd on “Mr.
November” and ending with a gorgeous acoustic medley sing along
to “Terrible Love”/”Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks,” the whole crowd
singing at the top of their lungs on the repeated lyrics “All
the very best of us, String ourselves up for love.”

This show was one that I not only saw
but felt. With goose-bumps on my arms and emotion stirring in
my core, I left the Murat Theatre with a spectacular music
buzz.

London-based Daughter opened the
evening with a well-received set of moody indie folk. Their
sound is one of rich sonic ambience with sweet guitar reverb and
soft
vocalization
from lead singer Elena Tonra. The vocals smack a bit of
Leslie Feist with an electronic sound that hints toward Sigur
Rόs. They played their track “Youth” off their debut album
If You Leave as well as their song “Home.” Their set was
laced with sweet banter suggesting the band’s excitement and
nervousness over opening for The National, and one affirming
moment when a member of the crowd gushed that the band members
“are all so attractive.” Daughter’s set was a refreshing way to
begin the evening, and I’ll be looking for them on future
tours.

Once
arriving to the venue, on stage was Nicholas Williams,
better known as Trinidad James. He comes out rockin’ the
afro with a stage presence you would expect from a headliner.
His hit “All Gold Everything” peaked at number 6 on the
Billboard US Rap charts, and on this night it was presented with
a rock and roll feel and sound that worked very well. I
personally hope James is around for a long time, he is energetic
and entertaining.

Next up
is B.o.B. This rapper might be the most underrated
performer on this tour as he has been nominated and won major
awards for his work. He played to the crowd well, coming off
stage to “smoke” once and running out into the lawn area for a
few minutes, the fans loved every second. He even signed and
gave away a pair of shoes to a girl in the front row. After a
few break dance moves and a great overall performance he gave
way to the next act.

Harlem
native A$AP Rocky and his full band came on stage to
thrill us next. Known in some circles as Lord Flacko, he
makes it clear that all he wants to do this night is entertain
us, smoke, and take somebody’s girlfriend home. Rapper Joey
Bada$$ joined him on stage for a performance of “Wild for
the Night” that ignited the crowd just before he broke into
“F%#@in Problems”. The end of his set displayed a humble A$AP,
saying “it don’t matter if you’re black, white, red, or yellow,
we’re all fans and we’re all purple people.”

The
headliner is Wiz Khalifa. Cameron Jibril Thomaz
was born in North Dakota and hails from Pittsburgh. He is a
commercial rapper, and begins his act with a Converse shoe ad on
the big screen. His proclamation is “if it ain’t money, don’t
know what the topic is”. The light show is amazing and at times
he resembles a rock god rather than a rapper. His love of
marijuana is no secret and the crowd seems to love that about
him. He starts the show with his hit “Work Hard, Play Hard”,
summing up his dedication to spending all the cash he works so
hard to earn. He slows it down for the next hit “Remember You”
as he teases the ladies in the front row. Throughout the show he
boasts his hits such as “Roll Up”, “On My Level”, and “Let It
Go”. He ends his set with a very extended version of “Black and
Yellow”, his biggest hit so far, and the fans
stuck
around until the very last note.

One
might think that with the lasers & lights that they had walked
into a dance party put on by one of the nation’s largest DJ
acts. But, what was exhibited on this night was each performer’s
ability to perform with the microphone in hand and with the
right mix of beats. Everything came together to deliver above
one’s expectations, and when the speakers went silent fans were
enthusiastically sent home.

Written
by: Rob Seaman

Photos
by :Keith Griner

Edited
by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Umphrey’s
McGee—CEFCU Center State—Peoria, IL—07/07/2013

On July
7th, 2013 Umphrey’s McGee made a stop in
Peoria, IL at the unique concert venue the CEFCU Center stage at
the Landing. This venue is a large spacious venue with a lawn
set underneath a large bridge. This Sunday show was much
smaller than I expected for being so close to their stomping
grounds of Chicago, and so near the site of their biggest
festival Summer Camp.

For me,
this was an especially memorable show. It was my 50th
show, and I still can’t believe that I had the honor of
photographing and reviewing this show. The band came on right at
7pm with no opener. They started out with a new jam, which the
band refers to as a “Jimmy Stewart” that they’ve been playing
recently called “Drink my Drank.” This up-tempo rock based song
is something I predict to see on the next album. Also in the
first set, they played one of my personal favorites from back in
the early days of Umphrey’s McGee, “Anchor Drops”. The lyrics
“Breath Easy, the less you have to offer the less you have to
lose. Think Slowly, the more you have invested the more you have
to claim. Dream Focused, as often as you’ve wandered you’ve
carried too much weight,” are some of my very favorite words
from singer Brendan Bayliss.

For the
last two songs of the first set, Umphrey’s invited renowned
guitar player Stanley Jordan to the stage for “Great
American” from the album The Bottom Half and “Fame,” the
familiar David Bowie song. Stanley Jordan is a well known
musician from Chicago that plays a very unique style of guitar
called touch guitar. Instead of strumming the guitar to create
different notes, Stanley in effect plucks
and
taps out each note on the neck of the guitar, creating a unique
style and sound. Stanley Jordan’s style fit in perfectly with
guitarist Jake Cinninger’s rock and shred style, as they
launched into solo after solo, closing the first set.

Second
set proceeded in typical Umphrey’s McGee style. They opened with
an unfinished “Bridgeless” and even threw in a little Snoop Dog
tease during “Utopian Fir.” It was the three song encore that
was something special to me. They started out with a
“Resolution” with the recognizable melody from “Norwegian Wood”
by the Beatles delicately woven into the rock and roll riffs. I
am always amazed by the diversity of this band as they go from
song to song without skipping a beat. They closed the set with
“Africa” by Toto. This was my first time seeing this song
performed live, and I have to admit, I was impressed and
thrilled to see them pull this song out of their bag of tricks.
According to allthingsumphreys.com (their stats and set lists
website where you can find just about any information about the
band that you need) this was the only the 56th time
they had performed this song in all of their years of touring.
It was a very special way to end my 50th show and I
cannot wait to see what they have in store for the late summer
tour with STS9.

On Sunday, July 14th, 2013,
Paul McCartney took the stage to a roaring ovation in
front of a sold out crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in
Indianapolis. McCartney, one of the most iconic and influential
musicians in the history of music, lived up to his reputation
for being the perfect showman. For almost three full hours, the
fans were treated to a 38 song setlist that was laden with hit
after hit. The classic “Eight Days A Week” kicked things off, a
song which had never been played live until the current
McCartney tour. This live debut was followed by the Wings
classic “Junior’s Farm”, before quickly slipping back to the
Beatles era for a quite memorable performance of “All My
Loving.” The hits never ceased, and every song’s performance was
just as appealing as the next. Two other un-performed Beatles
classics off of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
album, “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” and “Lovely Rita”
were personal favorites of mine, both were just breathtaking.

In addition to the stellar
performances of all the classic tunes, the fans were treated to
a mind blowing visual show giving each song a wonderful
aesthetic of charm. From the arena shaking pyrotechnics on “Live
and Let Die,” to the projection screen mind trip on “Helter
Skelter” I was completely floored with the production on
display. Other notable highlights included “Something,” “Band On
The Run,” and “Lady Madonna”. The crowd even participated as
backup singers as Sir Paul led quite an orchestrated sing along,
with the highly recognized Na-na-na-na’s at the end of “Hey
Jude.” Every tune had something else to offer, and as a fan you
couldn’t help but be magnetized by the experience.

McCartney’s sense of humor
and personable charm also shined, as his quite concrete
storytelling drew all ears, and personal moments spanning
throughout his musical career became quite the added bonus.
Stories about Jimi Hendrix and about meeting
the
Russian government led us on a ‘magical history tour’. McCartney
was flamboyant but accessible, because he made you feel as
though you were right on stage with him, singing those great
songs of yesterday. McCartney delivered in Indianapolis, and if
he comes back I might have to go for round 2. I could honestly
say, this was quite possibly my favorite concert that I‘ve ever
attended. I’m still in awe of how a 71 year old could have so
much energy, and deliver such an incredible performance. I guess
that’s why he is considered one of the best in the history of
music. I wouldn’t or shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Written by: Ty Goodwin

Photos by: Keith Griner

Edited by: Rosemary A.W.
Roberts

String
Cheese incident ~ Louisville Palace Theater ~ 7/14/13

Cheese came
pouring out of the doors of the Palace Theatre in
Louisville, KY. It revitalized an army of sunburnt smiling fans
who walked across town to witness the late night spectacle to
Forecastle Music Festival, and no one was disappointed. When
String Cheese Incident began with the heavy hitter opener,
“Howard”, it set the mood and everyone was ready to get down on
their good foot for the evening. The energy persisted into the
second song and it came with an umbrella straw on a tropical
breeze because “Can’t Wait Another Day” transported the Palace
to a beach on the Ohio river. Staying consistent with the vibe
the jams were poignant and powerful, which carried us into a
bluegrass favorite “Orange Blossom Special”. The train whistle
at the onset of the song begins on Michael Kang’s violin;
this gives me goose bumps every time I hear it, because you know
something special is coming behind that train. Cheese felt like
keeping it classy and grassy so they covered Gordon Lightfoot’s
“Cold on My Shoulder” which made Bill Nershi and the
traditionalist fans ecstatic. “Sometimes A River” was a pure
display of the band’s ability because they traded off the lead
many times and it felt seamless. Then to add a cherry to the top
of that song they transitioned into “Bam!” Kyle Hollingsworth
killed this in all of its bass and drum glory. Then they
surprised the crowd with a sweet transition into “Minor Swing”;
the two songs really worked well together.

“Just one Story”
was a roller coaster of a good time. The musicians have to love
playing this song because they each get a chance to demonstrate
their talents. The next song was their chance to rest for a
second and slow the tempo down as they played “Hotel Window”.
Kyle wanted to take everyone to church early that Sunday
morning, as he played on the organ. “Impressions” jammed and was
like a trance with a guitar resounding through a dream, and then
Kyle started talking with his keyboards’ vocal sampling effects.
“Colliding” is another one of those songs that Cheese plays that
makes me want to be outside and laying in the sun. The crowd
caved into the bounce for this song and even the security guards
were moving. The last song of the set was “Restless Wind”, and
it seemed fitting to play one more song with bluegrass roots in
it to keep a good balance to the set. The band left the stage
to the dismay of the crowd who were hoping for a 4 am curfew.
They instead encored with a Led Zeppelin cover of “Ramble On”
which rocked and had me anticipating Robert Plant coming out
with them since he was scheduled to play at Forecastle as well;
alas, it didn’t happen.

The
show was a sweet way to end the night and a great way to get out
of the heat and into the fire. The crowd was in it to win it and
the band did not disappoint. They came out of the gates hard and
fast with the “Howard” and didn’t take their foot off the gas
until they played “Cold on my Shoulder”. The rest of the show
was an intense roller coaster of fun transitions and their
signature mixture of bluegrass and rock to coalesce into one
hell of a dance party.

Written By: Charles Jeffery

Edited By: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Photos By: Keith Griner

O.A.R.—The
Lawn at White River State Park—Indianapolis, IN—06/29/2013

On June
29, 2013, Of A Revolution, better known as
O.A.R., made their yearly appearance at The Lawn at White
River State Park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It had
been an unusually cool and rainy summer day, but as the evening
slowly crept up, the rain clouds began to clear and made for a
nice concert during a beautiful sunset.

O.A.R is
a fairly well-known band in the Mid-West; although they hail
from Maryland, they always find time to make a yearly stop at
the White River State Park. O.A.R has five core members, but
this show was special because they had a three-piece horn
section sitting in with them. O.A.R. is known for their
energetic stage presence and catchy songs. All eight members
were dancing on stage, and feeding off of the energy of the
crowd. After two opening bands, O.A.R went on to play a 24 song
set. It was a long, pleasant night of music for everyone. They
opened with the popular song “Taking on the World Today,”
featuring Evan Oberla on trombone and Jon Lampley
on trumpet, and a power packed sax solo from band member
Jerry DePizzo. They went on to play several of their popular
tunes, mixed with teases from other well known songs. The song
“Destination” had a “Fire on the Mountain” by the Grateful Dead
tease woven in with the original melody. O.A.R. closed the
night with a three song encore, and at the end they brought up
members from the opening bands for the song “Live and Let Die,”
closing the night with a family style jam.

Set
list:*Taking On the World
Today, Untitled, Destination, Living In The End, 52-50,
Heaven, Dinner Last Night, Hey Girl, Night Shift, I Will
Find You, About An Hour Ago, Whatever Happened, Shattered
(Turn The Car Around), Wonderful Day, Tragedy In Waiting,
About Mr. Brown, Toy Store, That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker,
This Town, Black Rock, Peace;

I knew I
was in for a special performance given the professional and
artistic reputation of David Byrne, former lead member of
the Talking Heads, and having seen Annie Clark’s, a.k.a.
St. Vincent’s, shows before; but I was still blown away
by their brilliant set at Whitney Hall in Louisville, KY.
They opened the night with the horn-heavy “Who,” the opening
track from the collaborative album Love This Giant.

The set
list was a healthy mix of St. Vincent’s material including
“Marrow,” “Cheerleader,” and “Northern Lights” along with tracks
from the new album and a scattering of Byrne tunes which
included “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody),” “Burning Down
The House,” and “The Party / Road To Nowhere.” They shared the
stage throughout the night with Byrne hanging back at times and
almost showcasing St. Vincent.

The
night was a mix of choreographed steps, theatrics, and a tight
brass section that accompanied both singers’ distinctly
different vocals. Byrne’s quirky and whimsical dance moves were
mirrored by St. Vincent and the backing band on several dance
routines. Byrne’s innate charisma combined perfectly with St.
Vincent’s unique electric guitar playing.

Byrne
introduced “Outside Of Space & Time” by dedicating it to the
Higgs boson particle. This particular song showcased the full,
rich sound of The Brass Tactic. The encores and longer
breaks in the music were handled with true stage theatrics, with
the stage dimming while the musicians got into their positions
for the next song.

St.
Vincent shared the story of when she first discovered Byrne’s
music. When she was very young she watched the film Revenge of
the Nerds and heard “Burning Down The House” for the first
time. She spoke of how it moved and resonated with her and was
one of the first moments of music inspiration she remembers.
Though the two artists are from different eras, their year on
the road together has made their stage chemistry gel into a
sleek and polished performance.

Setlist: Who,
Weekend In The Dust, Save Me From What I Want,
Strange Overtones, I Am An Ape, Marrow, This
Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), The Forest Awakes,
Optimist, Like
Humans Do, Lightning, Lazarus, Cheerleader,
Lazy, I Should Watch TV, Northern Lights, The One Who
Broke Your Heart, Outside Of Space & Time

The last time I
saw Dave Matthews Band in Indianapolis was 2009 when it
rained and poured, but Dave came out on stage and gave his
audience the show of their dreams anyways. On Friday, June 21 at
Klipsch Music Center, dark clouds appeared to possibly be
rolling in for another rainy show but instead we got lucky and
beautiful weather delighted the night.

DMB is the only
two-night run at Klipsch Music Center this summer and the
campgrounds were bustled with rowdy day drinkers ready to make
summer memories. The true DMB fans had their tickets ready for
action both nights.

I now feel bad
for ever saying I am going to see “Dave Matthews” without saying
the “Band” at the end. Seeing them up close and live, it is
clear how in-tune this seven-piece band is with one another. The
layers of sounds are so well harmonized together. You can feel
the energy of the music control the crowd.

I
was pleased when halfway through the set, I turned to my friend
and said, “I wish he would play ‘Crash Into Me.’” Then after an
instrument switch out, he began singing what is probably one of
the most elegant sex songs made. I was ecstatic because there
was the chance he would play it Saturday instead. (Although
Saturday’s set list included “Crush,” my other DMB favorite).

My favorite
instrument solo was Rashawn Ross on the trumpet after the
song “Squirm.” Dave jammed on the guitar and then Ross belted
back and reminded me that trumpets are beautiful instruments
too.

The encore
brought “Sister,” “The Best of What’s Around,” and finally ended
with “Ants Marching.” Being one of those bands with tour
followers, they had an entire choir from the audience as his
back-up singers. Everyone knew when to fist pump in
synchronicity and everyone sang along in bliss all night.

Tom
Petty and The Heartbreakers brought their countless hits
to a record setting crowd at Klipsch Music Center June
15, 2013. Promoting their new album titled Mojo,
and promising a good time right out the gates, the boys made
sure not to skip a beat from 1978 to 2013. It has to be a great
feeling to have teenagers and folks even older than you belting
out your lyrics at the top of their lungs decades after writing
them, and it has to be an even better feeling when the same
folks even belt out the new stuff.

Opening
the night with the Byrds classic “So You Want To Be A Rock’n
Roll Star” let everyone brace themselves for what was in store.
Throughout the night Tom let the crowd know how much he loved
playing in Indiana; after the first shout out leading into “Mary
Jane’s Last Dance”you could not help but believe him.
Tom showcased his new album early in the set with “Good Enough”.
The lawn was meant for a Petty concert, strangers hugging each
other out of pure joy and the most epic lighters-in-air moment
courtesy of “Free Fallin”.

Tom
Petty gave almost
a sermon in between songs with one of the best one-liners being
“If you miss the 70s and 80s, it is okay”, which led into
“Listen To Her Heart”. The fans that were in the audience could
not help but leave feeling like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
touched all the bases before heading home, even touching the
Traveling Wilburys album with their version of “Tweeter and the
Monkey Man”. For the skeptic in the audience who was looking for
one out of left field, the boys brought to the plate a special
rendition of “Melinda”, with “Learning to Fly” allowing everyone
to have one arm around the person next to them and the other arm
with their lighter in the air.

The sun
provided the perfect weather and the moon the perfect backdrop.
The set ended with Tom telling you that it is all right to not
live your life like a “Refugee”. When Tom and the boys came out
for the encore the half moon that
hung
since the sun went down must have gotten the cue because not a
cloud was in the sky until the first few chords of “Don’t Come
Around Here No More”; as if it was scripted, away went the moon.
Legendary rockers Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers provided an
incredible evening of music, with time to revel in the past,
enjoy the present, and look ahead to a bright future.

The
forecast called for a chance of rain Sunday June 9th, 2013, but
it did not seem to bother anyone who showed up at the Klipsch
Music Center that day. From the time the gates opened,
The Upright Willies had everyone in ear shot dancing to
their favorite classic songs from pop culture; “Wagon Wheel”
seemed to be one song they covered that had everyone feeling the
groove. Spirits were high the entire night and anticipation was
building for the evening’s main event.

The
music venue was completely packed, and you could tell everyone
was there to have a good time. So many smiles and friendly faces
abounded, you would have thought many of these folks were having
the best day of their lives. The lawn and pavillion areas were
both full, along with all the concession areas. It was great
seeing such a diverse crowd, and they were all sharing in that
universal thing we call fun.

While
the Upright Willies were playing a small stage up by the gates
to keep the crowd happy, Blackberry Smoke was the first
band to take the main stage. Promoting their newest album The
Whippoorwill, Blackberry Smoke came out to represent. If you
have not heard the album, please check it out; it is solid from
start to finish, which is rare in today’s music industry. My
favorite song off the new album is “Sleeping Dog”, and when they
lead into the Allman Brothers Band classic “Midnight Rider” in
the middle of it, I was in heaven. One song off their album that
sticks with me the most is “One Horse Town”, and I was happy
they played it so well that night. Although they’ve been
together since 2000, Blackberry Smoke’s stage presence evokes
the feeling that they have been around for decades, and their
lyrics are insightful. The woman sitting next to me had brought
her friend and granddaughter, who was so little that she stood
on her chair to see. Security saw this and actually had the
heart to let her stand closer to the stage where she had perfect
viewing: this story sums up all the awesome vibes I experienced
this night.

After a
short intermission the great Zac Brown Band took the
stage. If you do not know much about them please do some
research; Zac Brown has his own charity which, in my opinion, is
genuinely one of the best in the country.
CampSouthernGround.org is what initially gave me respect for
the man and he puts a lot of hard work into it. Of course, the
countless hit songs this band creates are what bring so many
people to their concerts. The lighthearted flavor of songs like
“Jump Right In” and “A Different Kind of Fine” is balanced by
the beautiful vocal harmonies in songs like “As She’s Walking
Away” and “Natural Disaster”. Zac Brown Band is not only great
in the studio, but these guys also know how to perform a
fantastic live show, and it’s often the covers that cause people
to almost jump out of their skin. The Noblesville show featured
Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic”, Dave Matthews Band’s “Ants
Marching”, and acoustic versions of Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges
Road” and David Gray’s “Babylon”. Later on in the encore, Led
Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” had everyone giving high fives to strangers
all around, while The Charlie Daniels’ Band’s “The Devil Went
Down To Georgia” caused everyone to do the do-si-do all while
having boot stomping fun. Family truly seems to be a theme Zac
Brown portrays, and it made me feel good to be part of such a
family environment that night.

It was a beautiful, warm evening for a
concert at the Vogue Theater Saturday night. Alt-country
veterans, Son Volt, drew their decades-earned gathering
of loyal fans and filled the theater with the strains of
honky-tonk. Having earned the reputation of an uncompromising
purist from his days co-leading the band Uncle Tupelo, Jay
Farrar held true to a classic country style. Farrar’s
trademark somber voice was coupled with a black and brown
acoustic guitar, black Western-style shirt, and black jeans
paying homage to the tradition of Johnny Cash. Son Volt’s
newest album, Honky Tonk, evokes the nostalgia of Western
watering holes with lyrics steeped in working-class struggles
and lost love. They played several songs off of Honky Tonk
and their fiercely loyal fans stood in the front rows and
sang along. The crowd was a mix of cowboys as tall as pine
trees in Western wear and indie music fans wearing dark-rimmed
eyeglasses and alternative band t-shirts. I spoke with one fan
who had seen the band the night before in Chicago and would see
them again in a
couple
of days. He has been following Jay Farrar since he co-led the
alt-country band Uncle Tupelo in the late 90s with Jeff Tweedy
(now the front man of the band Wilco.) Like an estranged spouse
wins friends in a divorce, Jay Farrar won this fan’s loyalty for
the decades that followed Uncle Tupelo’s break up. “I hate Jeff
Tweedy,” the fan told me with much satisfaction, “Just wait, Jay
is really gonna rock it later on.”

The opening band, Colonel Ford,
consisted of the members of Son Volt without Farrar. They
played several honky tonk covers including Willie Nelson’s
“Whiskey River Take My Mind” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “That’s What
You Get for Loving Me.” The band’s energy and smiles made it
evident that they were having a good time. Colonel Ford is
touring currently, and crowds of country fans will hear their
greeting
line, “It’s honkey tonk time.”

Kendrick
Lamar: The Good Kid m.A.A.d. City World Tour—Farm Bureau
Insurance The Lawn at White River —Indianapolis, IN—06/06/2013

The Good Kid, m.A.A.d City World Tour
came into Indianapolis and brought some hype with them on
Thursday June 6, 2013. This evening started its flow off right
with Jay Rock, Ab Soul, and Schoolboy Q, before
the headliner Kendrick Lamar came out to perform. These
guys were definitely ready to have fun and prove a point. Big
beats and loud speakers and about 1700 listening fans gave these
guys a chance to spread their music to the dancing and singing
crowd. You could hear different styles of music from hip hop, r
& b, and gangsta rap with a west coast style and sound. These
artists took advantage of their time on stage and got the crowd
very involved along the way. The artists all speak to their fans
by different lyrics which include life experiences, guns,
government, women, alcohol, politics, and growing up in the
ghetto. As the night went on, the crowd kept growing, getting
louder and more enthusiastic as performance after performance
kept getting them closer to seeing Kendrick. Explosions of
screams, claps and whistles poured out as Kendrick came onto
stage. Kendrick started his performance off with three big hits
including, “Westside, Right On Time,” “Poetic Justice,” and
“F#%@ing Problems.” The kicker about Kendrick Lamar’s
performance is that he was the show. It was just Kendrick and
his microphone besides the DJ. His performance was very
energetic and thrilling, a must see show for the hip hop
lovers.

Written By: Jordan Lord

Photos By: Keith Griner

Edited By: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

The
17th annual All Good Music Festival and Campout promises
to bring the best touring groups all together with no
overlapping sets on the beautiful grounds of Legend Valley
in Thornville, Ohio the weekend of July 18-21, 2013.
It is only the second year that All Good will have been held in
the Legend Valley, and last year did not disappoint. Expect to
see all the i's dotted and t's crossed just like it was last
year, and with this year’s line up being even better than last
year’s, you will not be able to help but get excited. One of the
biggest complaints about larger music festivals such as All Good
is that the stages are too far apart; but at All Good they solve
this problem by having both of their stages next to each other
and have each band on the line up staggered, so you don't have
to miss a single show.

If you
are not much of a campsite cook do not worry, because All Good
has you covered. Every style of food can be had at All Good, and
even if you are a vegan or vegetarian you can find delicious
food that will give you energy to rage proper. Be sure to take a
stroll around the entire campground that is All Good at least
once while you are there; you never know what is around the
corner, and it is a great way to stumble across memories you
will be talking about months after the festival is
over.

With
Buckeye Lake just down the road from Legend Valley, you cannot
help but think about all the awesome Grateful Dead shows that
have taken place in the area over the years when the good ole
Grateful Dead toured. Last year Bob Weir brought Bruce Hornsby
on stage with him along with Branford Marsalis, to belt out
Grateful Dead tunes many of us had never heard played in that
style. Meanwhile, Phil Lesh and Friends came out the same night
and played the tunes the way Phil thinks they ought to be
played. This year however, Furthur will be taking the
stage to show us all how amazing Grateful Dead music is when Bob
and Phil are playing together. Expect to not only hear Furthur
play at this year’s All Good, but be ready to feel it deep down
in your soul.

All Good has one of
the most solid line-ups of any music festival taking place this
festival season; there is not one band that you should miss.
John Butler Trio is definitely one band you do not want to
miss; they have not toured the U.S. in a while and if you have
not heard of them you are in for a treat. Yonder Mountain
String Band, Grace Potter, Leftover Salmon, Trevor Hall,
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Revivalists, Fruition,
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad: these are just a few of the
bands you’ll be pleased to see at All Good; and even those I
have not listed are bands you should check out on your favorite
social media. Please check out all the bands that are playing
All Good 2013
www.allgoodfestival.com , and if
you attend there will be no excuse why you had to miss anyone on
this year’s stellar line up; I hope to see you all out in the
fields of Ohio in July!

Written
By: Tyler Muir

Edited
By: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Dark
Star Jubilee Preview ~ May 24, 25, & 26, 2013 ~ Thornville, OH

If you are looking for
something fun, beautiful, and unique to do over Memorial Day
weekend, you should take a look at Dark Star Jubilee.
This three-day music and arts festival May 24, 25, and 26
out at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio is sure to be
one of the must see festivals of Summer 2013. Dark Star Jubilee
is by far one of the most family friendly, respectful, and
loving festivals. The venue, Legend Valley, has been the site of
many music festivals such as Hookahville and All-Good. There are
two stages and a VIP stage set at the bottom of a hill covered
in old pine trees. Music never overlaps at this festival, so you
will never be forced to miss a single set of music! Camping at
this festival, unlike the larger ones, is pretty much open. You
are welcome to camp as close or as far from the stage as you
like and you can also camp by your car. There will be tons of
food vendors in the valley, whether you like Disco Pizza, or
some healthier vegetarian options, there will be something there
for you. There will also be your typical shakedown goods vendor
tents where you can buy all the sparkly jewelry and clothes that
you could want. Oh, and of course, there will be music, tons of
it!

The
headlining band is Dark Star Orchestra, one of the most
popular Grateful Dead cover bands. They play Grateful Dead shows
in their entirety, every now and again throwing in an original
set list. They attract a wide range of people, from your
weathered Dead-heads, to young groups of friends, to parents
brining their kids to their first music festival. It is a
smaller festival, but I couldn’t be convinced to miss three
nights of Dark Star Orchestra. That’s right, three nights, two
sets each of our favorite Grateful Dead tunes, played by the
most well-known cover band to date. Not only does DSO bring with
them a great family, they also have one of the best light shows
in town that they project on the biggest tie-dye tapestry you’ve
ever seen. It is not something I suggest missing.

If you’re worried that
there won’t be variety at a Grateful Dead festival, you are
wrong! There are tons of other great bands playing such as the
Mickey Hart Band, featuring Mickey Hart, one of the
drummers for the Grateful Dead; Yonder Mountain String Band,
playing some of the most down-home bluegrass you can find; and
The Wailers, the original band that played with Bob
Marley, to bring some old-school Reggae jams into the mix. But
wait, there’s more! Other bands featured at the festival are
The Werks, Greensky Bluegrass, Melvin Seals,
Donna Jean Godchaux Band, Rumpke Mountain Boys,
The Ark Band, Pimps of Joytime, Karl Denson’s Tiny
Universe, and so many more that I don’t have room to
mention! I’m not psychic, but I am calling some collaboration
performances on stage! This weekend is sure to bring you all the
variety you love: string pickin’ blue grass, classic tunes from
the Grateful Dead, and soulful Reggae; and don’t forget, the
music never overlaps so you will be able to see every set!

Also, for all of you broke
hippies, Dark Star Jubilee is one of the most affordable
festivals this summer. Right now tickets are only $119 for three
nights of music and camping. At the gate you will only pay about
$30 dollars more, and they also have a volunteer program; if you
would like to work for your ticket you better sign up now!

So if you are looking for
a place where “the sky is yellow and the sun is blue” and
“strangers stop strangers just to shake their hands”, then come
on and meet me at the jubilee.

The First Annual Simply Music, Simply
Mushrooms Morel Festival took place at the Bill Monroe
Music Park in the beautiful Brown County hills of Bean
Blossom, IN. Many festival goers camped on the park’s wooded
campgrounds and walked to the stage and vendors from their tents
and campers. This translated to an audience of families sitting
in camp chairs with their coolers of beer and their dogs next to
them. The rural setting and traditional folk and bluegrass
music drew an eclectic crowd of artists, hippies, and country
folk, all of whom seemed to know how to have a good time. The
festival included instructional presentations on how and where
to find morel mushrooms and offered guided mushroom hunts for
festival goers. There was no shortage of down-to-earth, truly
friendly people to talk to around the stage, many of whom would
offer to have you sit
in
one of their camp chairs or use their extra blanket to keep
warm. Such a welcoming environment provided the perfect
backdrop for this quaint festival.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Early in the afternoon local singer/songwriter Megan Maudlin and
accompanist Alex Wnek played several original songs, some
with a political bent, and others in a standard folk style. The
set also included some well-chosen covers including one Ani
DiFranco cover and a Cox Brothers song written by the late Neil
Cox, a Brown County native, called "It's Hard to Say Goodbye."
Maudlin’s performance represented the true community nature of
folk music with her original social commentaries and paid homage
to the folk/bluegrass greats who preceded her.

The young Haley Jonay played a solo set with her lovely voice and
acoustic guitar. She covered many old favorites from Dolly
Parton's “Jolene” to June Carter Cash's “Ring of Fire.” She
also did a Cox Brothers’ cover, "Take Me When I'm Gone,"
building the anticipation for their
headlining
performance the following night. This set was a perfect example
of a new generation mobilizing the folk tradition.

Hamilton Creek took the stage
Friday evening with a set full of brightly-toned,
straightforward bluegrass songs. Each member’s finger work
revealed no sign of the chill that had the audience bundled up
in blankets and huddled around fire-pits. Each member played
with great skill as naturally as they would walk or breathe.
They covered the bluegrass standard “Kentucky Girl” with
rollicking banjo-picking and a fun walking baseline. Hamilton
Creek also covered Bill Monroe’s “Scotland,” a fiddle-heavy
foot-stomper, in recognition of his namesake stage on which they
played. Another cover I was delighted to hear was Leadbelly’s
“Take This Hammer.” This folk standard has been covered by
revered artists from Odetta to Johnny Cash to the Beatles, and
Hamilton Creek delivered it with wonderful harmonies and
fantastic energy. One final tune of note was John Prine’s
“Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.” The band did the song its
due justice with sweet, melancholy vocals paired with strong
instrumentation. Any true fan of bluegrass music should not
miss an opportunity to see Hamilton Creek.

While not listed on the official
schedule, Dave Simpson took the stage with only his voice
and his acoustic guitar to offer the crowd while they waited for
the next scheduled performer. It was such a nice treat to hear
this young man sing. He performed with a warmth and simplicity
that made a real connection with the
listeners.
Among the handful of folk songs he performed was an original
song written by his friend Alex called “Fuzzy Peach,” a song
about a warm, sunny day. Simpson sang this song to the crowd,
offering it as a remedy for the cold, cloudy evening. It did
the trick for me. The next time I know Dave Simpson will be
playing nearby, I will be sure to catch him.

Next up was Landon Keller. There
is a lot to be said for this performer whose style and talent
approach those of alternative folk greats like Amos Lee and Ray
LaMontagne. Keller’s vocal tones are smooth and bold then move
to a slight growl when the spirit of the song calls for it. The
beginning of Keller’s set included a gorgeous rendition of Ray
LaMontagne’s “Jolene.” It takes a true artist to capture all
the gut-wrenching passion of this song, and Keller delivered
every bit of it. He continued with a series of his own songs
including a political piece called “Soldier Boy” and a sweet
song about balancing being a father and musician called “Oh
Hallie & The Big Blue Sky.” Another of his originals,
“Firecracker,” was an anecdotal piece about “playing in bars and
promiscuous women.” The crowd’s response to the set earned an
encore song, and Keller introduced it as a Grammy-winning song
“which is cool because not a lot of cool songs win Grammys.”
Keller then played an unplugged cover of Gnarls Barkley’s
“Crazy.” Keller’s set grabbed my attention from the beginning
and didn’t let go until he left the stage.

The headliner for Friday night was the
contemporary folk musician Chicago Farmer, aka Cody
Diekhoff. Festival organizer, Randy LaVere,
introduced this working man's singer/songwriter as comparable to
the great John Prine. Chicago
Farmer’s
songs were informed by his small town experiences in central
Illinois and his transition to the urban challenges of living in
Chicago, a theme highlighted by his “People n’ Places.” His set
was punctuated by sharp wit and refreshing candor. After
performing his original composition about a small town with a
disproportionate number of law enforcement, “26 Cops,” he
quipped that it was, “a folk singer’s right to stretch the truth
a little.” Chicago Farmer’s set also included his “Assembly
Line Blues,” a song that followed in the true folk traditions of
Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, speaking to the experiences of an
industrial worker. For all of those hearty souls who stuck it
out through the damp cold to the end of Friday night’s schedule,
Chicago Farmer was the treat that made it all worth it.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Lexi Len Minnich was first to
take the stage, kicking off Saturday’s festivities. With the
morning chill still in the air, Lexi and her band fought to keep
their stringed instruments in tune and their fingers from
freezing, but they seemed to warm up as the set progressed.
Lexi’s classic country voice was complemented well by the
nostalgic twang of the Dobro-style guitar. Minnich covered
several classic
country
songs and pleased the crowd with a straight up rendition of The
Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers.” It was a great set to start the
day.

Next up was the Stampede String Band.
The sun began to warm the crowd on the stage lawn, and this trio
heated up the stage with a powerhouse of energy. With the
members playing banjo, mandolin, and a harmonica/kick drum
combo, these guys rocked the park and had the crowd grinnin’ and
tappin’ their toes. They played several original tunes
including a piece called “Just a Man” and one of their early
songs “Old Darlene.” Stampede’s songs varied from upbeat to
whisky-soaked and worthy of comparison to the likes of The
Felice Brothers. In one of the many audience-engaging moments,
one member of the band admired the “hillbilly smoke machines” in
reference to the fire pits lined up across the front of the
stage. Stampede String Band set a cheerful tone for the rest of
what turned out to be a beautiful day.

The Whipstitch Sallies is an
emerging band with a growing and loyal fan-base. Having been
featured on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, the four
ladies in the band have been gaining increasing and
well-deserved popularity. Their crowd engagement Saturday was
undeniable, with lead
singer,
Allie Burbrink, quoting Thoreau and the bands lively
sound check sparking rhythmic clapping from the crowd. The
Whipstitch Sallies played a great cover of “Rye Whiskey”
complete with upright bass slaps and peppy harmonies. Burbrink
then introduced an original song called “Jolene” by explaining
that she couldn’t cover Dolly Parton’s song of the same name
since her mother wouldn’t like her to sing a song about “pining
for a man who’s cheatin’ on me.” Her song’s lyrics instead ask
the question, “What good is a man who puts a good woman down?”
With Burbrink on banjo, Kat Erikson on upright bass,
Sam Roberts on mandolin, and Katie Burke on fiddle,
the band plays in tight unison with the stage presence of
seasoned performers. The Whipstitch Sallies’ fan-proclaimed
“riot grass” was a crowd favorite of the day, and they had me
trying to decide if they were more adorable or more badass.

Next up was Old Truck Revival.
This trio rocked their strings with steady toe-tapping rhythms,
and they performed a set full of original songs with great
regional appeal. They began their set with a song called
“Putnamville Quarry” and followed it up with “Don’t Follow Me,”
a song
about
coal mining. Another of their originals, “Kentuckiana Blues,”
called out some of the drawbacks of small town Southern Indiana
living with lyrics like “stuck here in Crawfordsville.” Old
Truck Revival’s style and talent reminded me of alt-country band
Uncle Tupelo with their authentic rural American style. They
topped off their set with a bluegrass cover of Stevie Wonder’s
“Superstition” and a cheerful tune by their friend Adam Carol
called “Screen Door.” These guys are definitely worth a
listen.

The Indiana Boys played a set of
covers and original songs. This band of five played everything
from banjo, mandolin, guitar, and harmonica with great unity and
stage presence. Lead singer, Kenan Rainwater, performed
with stand-out vocals in a low somber tone the likes of Jay
Farrar. The band played both Friday and Saturday and seemed to
be a crowd favorite. During their Saturday set, they had
Dave Simpson join them onstage for a song, speaking to the
spirit of community among folk musicians. The Indiana Boys were
a perfect fit in the festival lineup, and I will be seeing them
again the next opportunity I have.

In
an unplanned performance, Jeremy Vogt took the stage with
his acoustic guitar and wowed the crowd with his gorgeous voice
and beautiful strumming. He played a quick set of original
songs in a standard folk style, but his performance was anything
but standard. His voice had a “gravel and honey” quality
similar to Ray LaMontagne, a sweet, low resonance. The crowd
got a great treat with this impromptu performance.

The New Old Cavalry played a
kickin’ set of bluegrass rock. The four guys in the band were a
perfect blend of hippies and hillbillies. They had the crowd
dancing in the dark by the fire pits and really got the party
started. These guys played with tons of energy, and they are a
blast to watch on stage. Frankly, any opportunity to see
dreadlocks and banjos on the same stage should not be missed,
but one would be missing out if it isn’t the New Old Cavalry.

The Cox Brothers (and friends)
headlined Saturday night. After a poignant introduction by
festival organizer, Randy LaVere, and a few kind words spoken
about the late Neil Cox, Ricky Cox and the band took the
stage. It became clear that the Cox Brothers hold a special
place in the hearts of Brown County natives as the crowd
gathered around close to the stage dancing, drinking, reminiscing,
and singing along. Ricky Cox began the set with a popular cover
medley including Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” Bob Segar’s
“Turn the Page,” and John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses.” The band
then began to play a series of Cox Brothers originals in a
classic country style. It was a chilly evening, but one could
still feel the warmth from the connection the band had with the
crowd.

On
Saturday, April 27thUltraviolet Hippopotamus
played perhaps one of the best and most memorable shows I have
ever seen by this band. They played at Bell’s Brewery and
Eccentric Café in their hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. You
could tell how grateful the boys were to be home again and to be
around all of their family and friends.

Bell’s Brewery was a great
location for this show. It has a great atmosphere that is very
welcoming to people young and old, and it was my very first time
to this brewery and in the city of Kalamazoo. I feel like the
wonderful people in this town welcomed me with open arms and
glasses full of dank beers. While taking photos, I was welcomed
to the front of the crowd, not elbowed away in the usual
fashion. Every face had a beautiful smile, and no one was shy to
say hello. It was a refreshing thing to be in a town where I
knew no one, but felt so at home and comfortable at the same
time.

UV
Hippo took the stage in their usual fashion, starting with a
high energy tune called “Avalon” that got the crowd moving. They
had a few issues with the light set up, but no one seemed to
notice or care. The upbeat and forward moving melody kept
everyone in step with each other and the band, making the light
show seem unimportant. As I looked behind me, I could see
nothing but smiling faces, sloshing beers, and dancing friends.
The family vibe could be felt in the air as the crowd welcomed
home one of their favorite local bands.

The highlight of the set
for me was when UV Hippo invited the lead singer of the opening
band The Diggity up to play one of the best Talking Heads
covers I’ve heard in a long time. They played “Slippery People,”
a well-known talking heads tune. Singer and guitarist Jake
Lashenikfrom The
Diggity has a voice that perfectly embodies the Talking Heads
sound.

UV Hippo encored with a
lengthy tune called “Colonel Sanders Breakdown”that left the crowd begging for more. As I walked to the
exit it was irresistible to snap photos of the groups of friends
hugging and smiling ear to ear. Bell’s Brewery was the perfect
setting for a homecoming show. It was a great night in a great
town, filled with good people, good beer, and good vibes.

Written by: Cassidy Maley

Edited by: Rosemary A.W.
Roberts

The
Devil Makes Three—The Deluxe in the Old National
Centre—Indianapolis, IN—04/25/2013

A
devilish night was had by all in attendance April 25th at The
Deluxe in The Old National Centre. The Devil Makes Three
(DMT) brought their traveling old-time bluegrass roadshow to
Indianapolis, Indiana and they did not disappoint. I have never
witnessed so much ball room, salsa, and swing dancing amongst
those in the crowd at a bluegrass show as I did during DMT.
After selling out their last appearance in Indianapolis, DMT
made sure this time around not only would there be enough room
for everyone, but everyone would have enough room to
dance.

Pete
Bernhard, Lucia Turino, and Cooper McBean make
up the fiendish trio, but if you’re a guy like myself, it will be hard to
take your eyes off Lucia Turino to pay attention to the other
two. I have never seen a musician make love to their instrument
while playing it on stage as Lucia does her stand-up bass. From
her facial expressions to her no-look hip thrusts, just watching
her masterfully play her instrument is worth the price of
admission. Throw in Cooper leading with banjo and Pete on guitar
and they have something for everyone.

DMT
brings out one of the
most diverse crowds in any scene today. Gays, lesbians,
hipsters, tricksters, hippies, straight-edgers, punk rockers,
senior citizens, and lumberjacks were just some of the
stereotypes I found walking by, while the wife and I sat on a
big red comfy couch
out in the beautiful lobby of The Deluxe. That, folks, is how
you know the band is great, because they are reaching all types
of people! "The times they are a changing" is a famous Dylan
album, but after attending the DMT show Thursday I believe in
Dylan's idea.

The
DMT library is full of instant classics and their depth keeps
growing with each song they create. “Old Number 7” is a drinking
classic of theirs that got the house praising their favorite
liquor while “Black Irish” let those in audience know what DMT
is all about if they did not already. Download a DMT album today
if you do not have one yet; they are bringing back that old
Vaudeville style music and everyone should support music that
leads. If you are in the Midwest and can catch a show in The
Theater, Egyptian Room, or the Deluxe at the Old National Centre
please do so; any one of these three rooms in the Centre is a
great place to see a show.

Panic
filled the streets of Louisville, Kentucky for the nights of
April 16th and 17th. Widespread Panic graced the stage of
The Palace Theater the only way they know how, bringing
the heat and showing no mercy. Each night highlighted different
aspects of the band and showed that after all these years they
still dominate the scene we all love. They were even nice enough
to bust out some old tunes; who
doesn't like a bustout?!

There
are very few theaters left in the Midwest that hold the old
charm that once was as American as apple pie, and The Palace
Theater still holds every ounce of that Americana. Though it is
a venue in downtown Louisville, it still allows hippies to be
hippies and Shakedown Street to thrive. Everyone could be seen
each night before and after the show getting their share of
everything from collector pins to grilled cheese. At The Palace
Theater there is not one bad seat in the place.

Night
one for me represented the old Widespread Panic everyone knows
and loves. They started the night with "Papa Legba" the old
Talking Heads favorite. First set was chalk full of the solid
Panic standards with "Barstools and Dreamers" checking to make
sure your heart was still in it. Intermission was much needed
since first set start to finish did not let you catch a
breath.

Second
set continued the Widespread Panic classics as if the band were
a DJ on a radio station having an all request hour. "One Arm
Steve" had everyone happy to be back in their seats and
"Christmas Katie" gave everyone the "Pinch me so I know I am not
dreaming" moment. The audience gave back every bit of energy
that the band gave them. The Chuck Berry favorite "Let it Rock"
solidified that old school rock feel of the night and closed out
second set. A communal cosmic hug could be felt when the band
closed the encore with "Can't find my way home" the Blind Faith
cover.

I knew
second night was going to be infamous when they came out first
set playing my favorite song of theirs, "Pigeons", and they did
not slow down from there until set break. "Shut up and Drive"
followed by "Stop-Go" and just to make sure you were not napping
a "Cream Puff War" that got down to the nitty gritty; and that,
folks, only made up the first half of first set. Only Panic can
make a Cat Stevens song such as "Trouble" sound so jamtastic!
That was followed by "Cotton was King" and by the set ender
"Junior" the Junior Kimbrough cover; not only was the hair on my
ears standing up but I needed some fresh air to let my arm pits
breathe.

Second
set of second night continued where first set left off, more of
the classy Panic stuff. After "Proving Ground" everyone was
wondering what favorite was up on deck and then out strolled
members of Bloodkin. Bloodkin is a band like Widespread
Panic that represents the peachy state of Georgia everywhere
they go. Bloodkin played the after party following the first
night in
Louisville
and they had everyone talking about them in the lot before night
two. When Danny Hutchins and Eric Carter of
Bloodkin joined Panic on stage everyone instantly began to try
and guess what Panic song was about to be played; to everyone's
surprise two Bloodkin songs followed, "Wet Trombone Blues" and
"Success Yourself". I do not think there could have been a
better way to be introduced to the band Bloodkin; they will
definitely be on my shuffle on my favorite listening device from
now on. Just to make sure to sew up a tight second set, Panic
closed with "C. Brown" into "Driving Song" followed by second
set closer "Chainsaw City"; I do not say OMG that often but OMG
was second set money!

As if that was not enough,
the band came out for the encore with "May your glass be
filled". I thought they were gonna end second night as they
started first night with a Talking Heads cover, but
"Heaven"
did not end the night; they saved the last song for everyone’s
favorite, "Tall Boy". It was an honor to have Widespread Panic
be my first two night run review and it was a pleasure to be
introduced to The Palace Theater and the city of Louisville by
doing so. Both The Palace Theater and Louisville are gems to the
Midwest and should be visited by all.

The Mousetrap Bar and Grill was packed
full of Deadheads on the Sunday April 14th evening that will be
in everyone who was in attendance’s memory banks for many years
to come. The Mousetrap does not hide the fact they cater to fans
of the Grateful Dead; the Indianapolis, Indiana bar has
countless Dead memorabilia inside the bar and out. The car on
top of the bar is painted red, white, and blue, with a dead
lightning bolt in the center. Even each bar stool has the red,
white, and blue stitched in the back along with a lightning
bolt. No one can ever say Indianapolis ain’t got no heart.

Terrapin Flyer has played the Trap
numerous times bringing one of Mark Karan, Melvin Seals,
or Tom Constanten with them. This time around Terrapin
Flyer wanted to show the Mousetrap
all
the love they have been given by having Mark, Melvin, and Tom
all be on stage playing the entire night with Terrapin Flyer.
Before the show Terrapin Flyer, Mark, Melvin, and Tom could be
seen just walking around chatting with everyone. Some fans had
things they wanted signed by the celebrated musicians and nobody
was told no. The whole night had that family feel.

The band eased into the first set with “The
Harder They Come” which helped everyone get their space together
for what was going to be an incredible night. Mark Karan owned
the stage for his electric version of “Friend of the Devil” that
could not have grooved into “Loser” any better. Those that
didn't have their dancing shoes on did so by “Cumberland Blues”
and I cannot describe the greatness that is created by the great
Melvin Seals on his Hammond B3 belting out such gorgeous sounds
with Tom Constanten on the other side of the stage on his keys,
matching brilliantly key by key. “Sugaree” could not have come
at a better time; the couples were taking advantage of the
change of pace and others could be seen catching their breath.
With “Jack
Straw”
and “Franklin's Tower” that followed to close the set, many
people could be heard at intermission saying they could not see
how it could get any better.

During intermission all who were on stage first
set were now mingled thoughout the crowd joking, laughing,
reminiscing days of old. It was really neat to see everyone
talking as if they have known each other for twenty years. It is
hard, though, not to feel this way while you are at the
Mousetrap, where everyone is treated like family. Doug Hagman
from Terrapin Flyer actually made it a point to give a shout out
to the owner of the MouseTrap Michael Quarto for always
making the band feel so at home and for being so kind to them
every time they play his bar. Doug also thanked the fans for
always making it a packed house and always being so welcoming.
With all the good vibes that were created during intermission
everyone was in front of the stage before the band was even on
because
they wanted a great spot for what they knew was going to be a
tremendous second set.

Right out the gate for second set they were
still bringing the good stuff; “Viola Lee Blues” let us know
that we all had a friend somewhere. Then came a “Scarlet
Begonias” that we knew was going to bring the fire. The Scarlet
had so much going on from each person on stage you could not
help but get lost in all the beauty being created, and as if
that wasn't enough Scarlet was followed by “Fire on the
Mountain”. After Fire we all thought it was towards the end of
the second set; we were wrong. “Don’t Let Go” calmed us down for
what was ahead, a “Dark Star” that was led by one of the
founders himself. Tom Constanten is a master of his field and
nothing proves this more than watching him lead the masterpiece
that is Dark Star. There were so many jaws hanging in disbelief
that they were witnessing such a masterpiece being played right
in front of them. Just to get everyone to come back
to
earth Terrapin Flyer ended the second set with “Good Lovin”.

After the awesome two sets,
many left the Trap thinking the band couldn’t have any more in
them; and they were wrong. Not even five minutes went by and all
the boys were back on stage busting into a legendary version of
“New Speedway Boogie” that was coming from deep inside their
chests. As if that was not good enough right in the middle of
the boogie they threw in “The Other One” which may have been one
of the best versions I have ever heard live; and when they were
tired of melting our faces they went back into “New Speedway
Boogie”, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers. To make sure
they did not leave anyone up in outer space from their
performance they closed their encore with “Dear Prudence” into
“Johnny B. Goode”.

On
Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing Sound Tribe Sector Nine
(STS9) grace the historic Fillmore Theater in
Detroit, Michigan for the first time in seven years. The
Fillmore has a long history in Detroit starting in 1925. I could
feel the energy of the place as soon as I walked in. The high
ceilings and intricate facades on the walls seemed to hold
memories of the many famous musicians and shows to pass through
the hall as well as providing almost perfect acoustics. There
are two balconies set over a large dance floor, and in my
opinion the first balcony is the best place to be.

The
opener, Russ Liquid, was a great fusion of electronic,
bass heavy beats with live, improvised wind instruments played
over the beat. His great stage presence got the crowd in just
the right mood for the headliner, STS9.

STS9
opened their set with “SpottieOttieDopaliscious,” a cover of a
very recognizable Outkast song featuring a strong horn line
melody that the Russ Liquid and Friends played alongside
STS9. It was a great opening statement for the evening. Russ
Liquid played with Sound Tribe for three more power packed,
up-tempo songs, keeping the crowd on their feet and adding an
extra depth to Sound Tribe’s unique style.

After
set break STS9 took the crowd on a journey. STS9 always amazes
me with the way they transition from song to song never missing
a beat. They are always on the same page and always responding
to the crowd. They opened the second set with a duo of songs
“Vapors>Simulator.” The music was so beautifully orchestrated
that you could barely tell the difference between the two songs
as they braided the melodies together ever so carefully.

The
night closed with a double encore of “When the Dust Settles” and
“Be Nice.” Russ Liquid and Friends joined the band in the last
song where Russ Liquid played a powerful trumpet solo. The crowd
was reluctant to leave. It seemed like a huge family here with
groups of friends celebrating birthdays and special occasions. I
heard story after story about past shows and the show to come
the next night in
Pittsburgh.
I was surprised to meet so many people making the trek from
Detroit all the way to Pennsylvania. This band has a great
circle of supporters and during the show they thanked them and
showed them gratitude several times. Seeing amazing bands like
this and meeting all of the amazing people that love them will
never get old, and it is perhaps one of the only times I feel
truly like I am home.

The
historic Brown Theatre in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky
provided the perfect setting Wednesday night for Jim James’
sold-out hometown concert. Though James is typically associated
with his widely popular band My Morning Jacket, this show
kicked off the tour for his new solo venture. Despite the
theatre being filled to capacity there was not a bad seat in the
stadium-style venue. This lavishly restored theatre features
modern updates, ornate beauty, and perfect acoustics for
enjoying live performances.

James
performed the entire new album Regions of Light and Sound
of God with a backing band of four members, including
Louisville musicians Kevin Ratterman and Dave Givan.
Ratterman (keyboards and guitar) has worked with My Morning
Jacket in the past, helping with the engineering on the
Circuital record. Givan, an old childhood friend, was
featured on percussion and executed a solo that excited the
crowd and drew an explosive response.

The set
primarily showcased Jim’s powerful vocals and rhythmic movements
on stage. James used the flying-V guitar displayed prominently
on stage sparingly, yet powerfully for solos, though he favored
his acoustic guitar for the encore. James also stepped out of
his standard stage presence to include a couple saxophone solos.
The energy of the set was a mesmerizing groove laced with
psychedelic R&B. The emerging lyrical theme had James exploring
spirituality, love, and a call for change toward a more positive
outlook on life.

After
the band had played the new album in its entirety, James played
a few solo acoustic songs including My Morning Jacket’s “Bermuda
Highway” and “Wonderful (The Way I Feel).” The band followed
with several songs by the collaborative band Monsters of Folk,
including “Dear God,” “The Right Place,” “Losin Yo Head,” and
“His Master’s Voice.” They also included a New Multitudes cover
of the Woody Guthrie song “Changing World”.

James
spoke sparingly to the crowd to give props to the University of
Louisville men’s basketball championship and to observe a
powerful
moment of silence to remember the victims of the Boston Marathon
bombing. James referenced comedian Patton Oswalt’s social media
post and asked the crowd to remember that despite the tragic
bombings, “most of humanity is good.”

Providing the opening set was Cold Specks, a moniker used
by the London-based, Canadian singer/songwriter Al Spx.
The band performed their set with a stripped-down, Deep-South,
gospel feel that set the tone for James’ soulful performance.

Written
by: Tony Vasquez

Edited
by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts, www.jamsplus.com

The
Whipstitch Sallies / The Stampede String Band / James and the
Drifters—The Vogue Theater—Indianapolis, IN—04/05/2013

Folk, Bluegrass and Americana music filled
the Vogue Theater Friday night April 5th. The three bands who
would take the stage are all bands with their roots in the area
and they are bands who represent their genres respectfully well.
It was a treat to chat with members of the bands throughout the
night to get a grasp on their passion not only for the music
they create, but also for the styles they grew to love. These
young bands are filled with so much all around talent that the
future will be whatever they choose it to be.

James and the Drifters were first to
take the stage. The Huntington, Indiana band is an all-around
powerhouse bringing strong lyrics, stage presence, and
likeability with them; making this band’s future look very
bright. Their song “Buffalo” is a song that shows they have a
place not only in the folk scene but also on radio stations and
in homes across this country. I totally could see myself with
the car windows down during a beautiful day cruising while on a
road trip singing along to James and the Drifters. They just
have that sound that though it is indescribable, when you hear
it you know they are doing something right. I really felt lucky
being introduced to this band Friday night.

The
second band to take the stage was The Stampede String Band.
This three-man folk/bluegrass band showed off their skills by
only using one mic. The Moonsville, Indiana band displayed their
passion and heart for the music they love with their song “Just
a man”, showing the growth this young band has already had. The
boys celebrated their two year anniversary at the Vogue Friday
night and were delighted to be able to tell how fun the past two
years have been with the audience. It’s always nice to see young
musicians pay homage to the classics they grew up listening to.
Keep an eye out for The Stampede String Band, it really will be
fun seeing what the future holds for this band.

It is a pleasure to see four women make up
a band. Then to have these four women be incredibly trained not
only in the instruments they play but also in the genres of
music they love, I have died and gone to heaven. Allie
Burbrink, Katie Burk, Kat Erickson, and Sam Roberts
all have their own personality and style on stage, but when
their powers combine in The Whipstitch Sallies they are
one well-oiled machine. These girls can pair up against any guy
groups in their field and hang alongside the best of them. You
will definitely want to follow the career of this great band and
I encourage you to snag a copy of their work as soon as you can.

From their signature originals to old
standard classics, The Whipstitch Sallies put their own
unique spin on everything they do. In the few short years The
Whipstitch Sallies have been in existence they are building a
strong fan base by creating loyal fans everywhere they go. It is
like
enjoying
a warm piece of apple pie listening to them play, and listening
to them share their knowledge of the music they love in between
songs while they are on stage is a delight. “Got Me a Letter” is
a song by The Whipstitch Sallies that I feel sums up their wit
and spirit well. I want to thank The Whipstitch Sallies for
taking time out of their night to give me an interview; you can
check out the interview at
www.jamsplus.com/interviews.

Written By: Tyler Muir

Photos By: Cassidy Maley

Edited By: Rosemary A.W. Roberts,

Galactic
with special guest David Shaw; Opener: The Nigel Hall Band—The
Vogue—Indianapolis, IN—04/04/2013

Funk and Soul was the theme at the Vogue
Theater Thursday April 4th, and New Orleans was
well represented. From start of the night to the end, funk was
beating off everyone’s chest and intensity was surpassed only by
the talent. Crowd participation was encouraged and all in
attendance could be heard doing their part to help out with back
up vocals. It was as if the Vogue was celebrating Mardi Gras on
this special night.

Opening the night of funk and soul was a
band that you must take notice of. If you have not heard of the
Nigel Hall Band, immediately visit
www.nigelhallmusic.com before you finish this article. The
band was made up of members of Lettuce and Dirty Dozen
Brass Band. Nigel
Hall
honestly had an all-star cast behind him and it was obvious they
meant business from the start while all in the name of fun. As
soon as the Nigel Hall Band started, everyone was on their feet
dancing. Nigel puts heart and soul into his lyrics with his
timeless voice and beautiful style. You could not help but feel
their strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to
Nigel’s jamming of the keys. The band especially showed their
fun side covering Missy Misdemeanor Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa
Dupa Fly)”. The Nigel Hall Band is definitely a band that could
tour the country successfully on their very own talent and
should not be overlooked.

Damn, was Indianapolis lucky to have
Galactic back in the area Thursday evening! Straight out of
the gate it was obvious they were bringing the love and soul of
New Orleans with them as they opened with two back-to-back songs
of nothing but groovy horn blowing in “Karate” and “Balkan
Wedding.” By song three, “Hey Na Na” Indy was in for a special
treat as David Shaw from the band The Revivalists
took over vocals. Shaw is like a man possessed, running around
the stage, standing on the guardrails, leaning out to the crowd
with the microphone; and it sure did not take him long to get
the crowd roaring. I cannot stress how incredible it was to have
Shaw on vocals for such hits as “You Don’t Know “and everyone in
the Vogue was in awe when the band busted out their own version
of a Beatles classic “I am the Walrus” with a twist of
funkadelic straight into their very own classic “Heart of
Steel.” They were bringing so much funk straight to everyone’s
core that it was a nice relief when they let their hair down and
belted out the iconic Old Dirty Bastard’s classic “Got Your
Money”. The only way the night could have gotten any better is
if the Vogue passed out free bourbon whiskey all night. Just to
make sure the fans got their money’s worth Galactic closed their
set with an extra strong version of Led Zeppelin’s “When the
Levee Breaks.”

I cannot thank 92.3 WTTS & Indy
Mojo enough for bringing Galactic back to the Vogue. It was
also a
special
treat having David Shaw do vocals for Galactic, and having the
soulful Nigel Hall lead such an awesome all-star cast was pure
bliss. Personally I have been waiting for Thursday night to
reemphasize if I should go ahead and book plane tickets to
attend next year’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The next time that
Galactic, The Nigel Hall Band or The Revivalists come to a town
near you, please do not hesitate twice, purchase tickets and GO!

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus ran through
the Vogue in Indianapolis, IN on March 8th
just as you would expect a Hippopotamus to do. This band has a
great family in the Midwest, and every time they come to town it
is sure to be awesome.

The opening band Dopapod was a
perfect band to start the night. They have a great electronic
fusion sound that mixes perfectly with UV Hippo’s sound. They
came equipped with a “snow” machine that brought smiles to every
face in the room.

As Ultraviolet Hippopotamus took the
stage the crowd tightened and the energy in the Vogue came to a
boil. The crowd was highly anticipating a great show, and the
excitement in the air was almost tangible. The band opened with
the high energy song “Verlander,” featuring Russell James
on guitar and Dave Sanders on keys and vocals. This
high-flying song got everyone in the crowd moving and raised the
temperature about ten degrees in the room.

Although
UV Hippo only played one set, it was jam packed with some of
their best songs. They showed their true colors and ability to
change from genre to genre, the whole time being led by their
amazing keyboard player. They took advantage of Dopapod’s snow
machine and halfway through the set, launched ‘snow flakes’ into
the air, bringing an extra level of energy to the venue.

The encore “North Coast,” a high energy
tune, once again led by keyboardist Dave Sanders, left the crowd
begging for more and in disbelief that the show was over. I
walked out of the vogue through a sea of hugging friends and
smiling faces. It was definitely a show to go down in the
history books.

Chicago is
obviously no stranger to various types of music acts, and
Saturday, March 9th, 2013 was no different when the
California based Reggae-rock band Slightly Stoopid came
to the city. Yes, Slightly Stoopid once again rocked it in the
Midwest when their fan-pleasing, seven piece group made way on
stage.

The
glassy-eyed Chicago crowd was warmed up with Stoopid’s opening
act, Tribal Seeds. They played a fun, “smoking” hot kind
of pre-show. Tribal Seeds was happy to welcome Stoopid’s guitar,
bass and vocal man, Miles Doughty to their set a few
songs before Stoopid was fully welcomed to the Congress Theater.
Doughty prepped the crowd for the upcoming Stoopid set, singing
and moving from the stage to tops of speakers and back to the
stage, making Chicago fans go crazy.

The pumped
crowd stuffed into the main floor of the Congress Theater and
was restricted to the main floor, on account of the balcony
being closed for renovation. Assuming one could fight the
parking
crowd
in the neighborhoods surrounding the theater, the typical
Congress Theater security didn’t seem to bother the Stoopidheads
packing the floor. As expected, security hurried to relieve any
crowd surfer making his or her way to the front quickly; exit to
your right please. Being crammed into the crowd was worth it,
especially since set up times in between the groups was speedy
and fans didn’t have to wait long for Stoopid’s full arrival.
The cozy bunch was ready and Slightly Stoopid brought it to the
Midwest. Having their own studio space must have paid off for
the band since from older to newer hits, the lively group was
well rehearsed and ready to keep this night moving smooth. The
band worked from the crowd’s energy, giving everything they
seemed to desire. Stoopid pulled the Stoopidheads into the music
and gave a coaster of twists and turns from newer music and back
to punk-rock style. During the evening, there were a few
lighters waving gently in support as well.

Stoopid’s
sound was crisp and clear, not overly loud but the crowd
definitely knew this wasn’t grandma’s car speakers. The rock,
reggae, blues, hip-hop, punk rock sound all came together
without any stress. Sounds from the latest 21 track album,
Top of the World filled the night and the crowd was in love.
The saxophone and
trumpet
sounds brought the crowd in and pleased the ear.

If you
weren’t lucky enough to make it to Chicago for Slightly
Stoopid’s appearance or just need more Stoopidness in your life,
be sure to catch them again soon. Their schedule is nearly full
of nightly shows all around the U.S. Playing locations vary
anywhere from Pittsburgh to Oklahoma City to Texas and back to
the Midwest; and don’t forget their homecoming in California.
With all the dates available, one certainly can find a show
close to home. Stay Stoopid.

Written by:
Tory Marks

Edited by:
Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Todd
Snider Live at The Vogue--Indianapolis, IN--March 14, 2013

Todd
Snider, stoner
fable storyteller, singer and songwriter who claims he knows
nothing, had no problem packing The Vogue Thursday evening for
folk music about recreational drugs, the evils of organized
religion and government. The Vogue was setup like a traditional
folk performance with seating towards the front of stage and
room in the back to dance till your little heart was content.

As hippy
Todd walked out on stage barefoot like he was in his own living
room, he got a standing ovation from the crowd. It did not take
Snider long to warm up to fans of Indiana as he opened his set
with “Greencastle Blues,” a song about him being locked up in a
prison in Greencastle, IN for possession of marijuana. Snider
went straight into a song off his newest album, Agnostic
Hymns and Stoner Fables called “Too Soon To Tell,” a song
about feeling betrayed and heartbroken. As some may recall Todd
struggled for years admitting that he had a bipolar disorder.
Although Snider is a brilliant songwriter and no one can deny
that, he communicates his struggles with life openly in his
lyrics. Snider also likes to make the crowd
feel
like they are a huge part of the show and so will take time to
chat it up with the crowd and tell humorous stories about his
music career. He would conclude the first set by playing some
crowd favorites like “Looking for a Job” and “Just Like Old
Times.”

Again,
Snider likes to make the crowd feel like they are part of
performance. So after his first set concluded he asked the crowd
to write songs down on a napkin and he would write a second set
from those songs. Set two is when the crowd let loose and
started to dance and sing along with the lyrics. Snider would
open the second set with “The Devil You Know,” a reference to
knowing what’s right and wrong but continuing to do bad things
because one can’t help it. Snider would really get the crowd
going when he pulled out of the hat “Beer Run/Age Like Wine.”
Snider would conclude the night by playing more crowd favorites
such as “All My Life,” “Alright Guy,” and “Conservative
Christian, Right Wing, Republican, White, American Males.”
Although Snider has had some personal issues over the longevity
of his career, he is a brilliant songwriter but most importantly
has heart and passion for folk music. Todd Snider could and
should be placed in the same class as Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie
for his superior song writing skills!

Lindsey
Stirling--Deluxe Old National Theatre--Indianapolis,
IN—03/12/2013

On a
Tuesday evening in March, Indianapolis witnessed a genre of
music that I was not even sure how to classify at the time.
Remember back in the ancient times those string-like puppets
that you pull on the string real fast, and suddenly the puppet
would make a quick jolt with it legs or arms? Well Lindsey
Stirling reminds you of a marionette with balancing yoga
poses that would suddenly leap in the air, skip across the
stage, spin like a Texas tornado and bend frontwards and
backwards, all while playing a theatrical piece of classical
violin music backed by a thundering drummer and keyboardist.
The crowd at the Deluxe was completely different than anyone
would expect for a dub step violinist. The crowd ranged from
kids of all ages to 60-plus aged folks.

Before
Stirling would transform herself into a leaping leprechaun she
would open the night with a taste of classical violin music.
Another great theatrical piece was her third song of the night,
“Spontaneous Me.” “Spontaneous Me” is a perfect example of
Stirling showing off her astonishing dancing skills while not
missing a note on the violin. By the fourth song of the night
Stirling was showing that she is more than just a violinist in
an original song, “Electric Daisy.” Huge thanks should also go
to Stirling’s cinematographer Devin Graham, who contacted
her shortly after her performance on America’s Got Talent.
Graham’s cinematography helps set the mood for each song that
Stirling performs; “Electric Daisy” made you feel as if you were
in the mountains of Colorado, while “Crystalize” made you feel
as if you were
surrounded
by ice sculptures. Midway through her performance Tuesday night
she pulled out of the hat a classic video game theme song for
all the gamers in the crowd as she went into “Zelda.” Again
Stirling has an astonishing and unique stage performance as she
includes something for all age groups like Just Dance or
Dance Party for children on the big screen.
Stirling
would also grab the dub step fans’ attention as she played her
favorite song off her new album Lindsey Stirling, called
“Zi-Zi’s Journey”. Lindsey would close the night off with
“Crystalize” an extremely popular selection in Stirling’s list
of music. “Crystalize” is what helped make her dream come true
with the power of the Internet and YouTube in which she has
received over 50 million visitors for this one song.

Although
Stirling’s set was approximately 80-minutes long she provided
something for all groups. If someone would have said I was going
to photograph a Mormon dub step, hip-hop classical violinist, I
probably would’ve turned my back and walked away. However, after
seeing this up and coming star a few years ago on America’s Got
Talent, I just knew someday this “cartoon figure” was going to
make a name for herself. Lindsey Stirling made the comment to
the crowd mid way through her epic and mind blowing set that she
was told her type of music was not marketable. In fact she was
told she would not make it with this type of music.
Well,
Stirling was not a fictional character then and definitely is
not one now. Just in the last 5 months alone she has made an
album without the help or endorsements of a large record label
and has sold out every show thus far. Now, who was it that said
Stirling would not make it with this type of music?!

Written/Photos By: Mark Loveless

Edited
By: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Funky
Junk, Glostik Willy, and The New Old Cavalry—The Vogue
Theatre—Indianapolis, IN—03/01/2013

The three bands whose names filled the
marquee out front only had a week to stir up publicity for their
show at The Vogue Theater Friday night. The band that was
originally billed to perform on March 1st backed out
one week prior, so the manager of the theater put out a distress
signal on Facebook asking for local talent to step up and fill
the void. Instead of just one band trying to round up support
for their chance to play the Vogue, three local acts joined
forces to try create an electric night for all in attendance.

Once Funky Junk, Glostik Willy,
and The New Old Cavalry asked their fans to demand that
they get to fill the open spot, it seemed like just a few hours
passed before The Vogue was making it official that they were
giving the night to the three bands. Herm Productions was
even nice enough to sign on for the light show in such a short
notice. Throughout the crowd, family members of each band could
be seen dancing and interacting with those who came to support
their favorite local acts.

The band with closest roots, Indianapolis’
own Funky Junk was first to take the stage and the crowd
was ready for what was going to be an epic night for all. They
came out with a space jam that set the tone for what was a
stellar set. This band has grown on stage quite a bit since last
time I have seen them and I definitely recommend following this
band and catching them next time they are playing near you. They
closed their set with “I Know You Rider” (traditional, made
famous by Grateful Dead), with everyone helping on vocals before
it was done. Funky Junk is made up of some of the nicest group
of guys I have come across yet.

Glostik Willy took the stage second
and it didn't take long for them to show the crowd it was time
to rage. “Highs and Lows” is a song that never gets old, and
allowed the band to show everyone their craft. Like Funky Junk,
Willy is a local act that has shown enormous growth in such a
short time; the Muncie, Indiana area band can be found playing
shows in the Ohio area as well. If you have an opportunity to
see Glostik Willy make sure to do so, and music festivals are
currently the best place to see them get their one time shine.
May Daze Music Festival is Glostik Willy's festival they
are having May 3-4, 2013 in Franklin, Ohio; check it out!

Last to take the stage was The New Old
Cavalry, and they took the stage as if they owned it. They
know how to get everyone stomping their feet, and their
feel-good music has you feeling that sense of home. The New Old
Cavalry may have some of the most diehard fans in the State.
Talking to some of them who were in attendance Friday I find
that "Cavalries" as I call them, seemed to be some of the most
unique individuals I have ever met. The New Old Cavalry can be
found playing almost weekly in their home base of Bloomington,
Indiana. This is another band that relishes participating in
Music Festivals, and they will be playing the May Daze Music
Festival this year; if you are lucky enough to have a chance to
hear them play at a festival this summer, please do not miss
them.

The next day, The Vogue Theatre posted
encouragement and gratitude to each of the bands for such a good
turnout on such a short notice. Any music fan that missed this
opportunity should hope for the chance to see them play The
Vogue together again. These bands pick up new fans every place
they play and because the bands are not only talented, but nice
guys, you cannot help but want to see them all reach their
potential.

Tea Leaf
Green stormed into the small vibrant 20th Century
Theatre Friday night for an onslaught of jam band music. It did
not take the band long to warm up as they started the evening
with an 8 minute jam in “Ride Together” straight into yet
another crowd favorite “Vote on Tuesday.” Tea Leaf Green, a
small quiet San Francisco band that does not seem to get a lot
of publicity, sure can get loud real quick and make a name for
themselves that fans will not forget. Tea Leaf did not
hesitate long to get the crowd involved as they played an
unforgettable psychedelic tune with Reed Mathis on a thumping
bass mixed with mind-blowing guitar rifts from Josh Clark and
Trevor Garrod tearing up the keys in “Franz Hanzerbeak.” This
song is a life changer when heard live! I promise you will go
home the same night and YouTube it! Garrod would play another
crowd favorite keyboarding jam in “Jezebel” from the album
Rock ‘n Roll Band. Tea Leaf Green is the perfect example of
a rock ‘n roll band that once they get on a jamming frenzy, they
will take your mind with it to another world and back all within
matter of minutes. Clark shows this quality in a rock ‘n roll
acoustic jam with a hint of soul in “Ocean View,” a classic from
late 90’s. The band would play one straight set with an epic
encore. The first set would conclude with another astonishing
shredding guitar rift from Clark with “Zoom Zoom” straight into
“Ride Together.” The band would return to stage so the crowd
could really get their moves on with “Truck Stop Salley” with
Trevor jamming on the keys, harmonica and jumping up
on
his stool. In all reality there is nothing quiet about this
band. Yeah, they may not be part of the so-called mainstream but
these fellas are loud, proud and produce some of the best catchy
jam band tunes out there. Please take a moment and listen to
Live at State Bridge, which you can download from Tea Leaf
Green’s website or iTunes.

The Embassy Theater was the place to be on
Valentine’s Day this year. The place was packed and love filled
the air. Everyone’s heart was beating a little heavier and it
wasn’t just because of the kick drum. If you have not seen a
show in Fort Wayne, Indiana at The Embassy, I highly recommend
it. It is a shame The Avett Brothers cannot bottle up their
energy and sell it.

Jill Andrews started the night off right
with her genuine stage presence. Her stage banter in between
songs is something that is lacking in today’s singer
songwriters. She had the audience eating out of her hands by the
end; and when she had to stop in the midst of a song she had
just written because
she
forgot how it went, the audience cheered as if she had just
played their favorite song. It will be really fun to watch Jill
grow and I recommend you all find her on the internet until she
comes to a town near you.

The Avett Brothers bring so much energy to
the stage, you cannot help but get caught up in the emotions
they shell out . The packed house that was the Embassy Theater
gave back every gram of energy the band gave off. Roses may wilt
but the memories made by the band will be talked about every
Valentine’s Day, for those in attendance. There was no better
public
place
you could have shared February 14th in Indiana with
your loved one than the Embassy Theater.

The setlist could not have been put
together more masterfully. When the crowd needed a moment to hug
up tight with their significant other because they had been
bouncing to and fro for song after song, in came a beautifully
written slow jam to bring everyone’s feet back on the ground.
The encouragement from the band to the crowd for their
participation was not needed, from the lyric reciting to the
energy matching, the crowd was as ready as the band to bring
what was needed to be brought. The special treat of the night
came at the end when the stage hand brought out the single mic;
the band huddled together with their instruments and played one
of the best versions of “Shady Grove” I have
ever
had the pleasure of hearing live.

Just as much as the performances from the
two musical acts blew me away, so did the venue. The Embassy
Theater has been around for 84 years and appears inside and out
as if it has not aged a day in its life. The Embassy truly is a
gem in Indiana and it kind of makes me sad I just found out
about it in 2013; better late than never, though. They
constantly are bringing big named acts and I highly recommend
“liking” the venue on your favorite social media outlet, along
with Jill Andrews and The Avett Brothers; the Cosmos is the
limit with these three things.

On
Sunday February 10th, 2013 Umphrey’s McGee made their
first return home since the early summer months of last year.
They sold out the Blue Bird in Bloomington Indiana days in
advance. The Blue Bird is a very small venue for a band like
Umphrey’s Mcgee, but a few years ago this place was their
stomping ground. I can remember seeing shows at the Blue Bird
that weren’t even sold out. It’s safe to say that in the recent
years the name Umphrey’s Mcgee and their signature rock n’ roll
jam style has exploded. A crowd where I once knew every face has
turned into a nationwide movement.

Umphrey’s
took the stage in classic style with “Cummins Lies,” a song with
no lyrics and no explanation for such a title. Their lights, run
by the coveted Jefferson Waful, were very impressive for the
limited space. This was one of the best lighting set ups I have
seen in the Blue Bird. It would have been even better if I could
have seen the stage. The venue was packed to the brim and only
those with the privilege to be near the stage could really see
and appreciate what was happening. Immediately the temperature
in the Blue Bird started rising as the crowd began to dance to
the rock n’ roll. Their first set had some great rarely played
jams where they left “Nothing too Fancy” unfinished and closed
with “Conduit.”

The
second set felt even more crowded than the first. Everyone
pushed forward towards the stage as the opening chords of “The
National Anthem,” (originally played by Radiohead) rang through
the tiny venue. Umphrey’s took the crowd on a journey in this
second set that could only really be described as face melting.
They played “1348>Higgins>1348,” which is a classic Umphrey’s
combination that weaves the two rock tunes together in an almost
elegant manner. They then played what I consider to be the gem
of the show “Come as Your Kids.” Umphrey’s is very well known
for their ‘mash-ups.’ This song is a combination of Nirvana,
MGMT, and the well known 80’s hit “You Spin Me Right Round” by
Dead or Alive. The band has only played this song five times
according to their website www.allthingsumphreys.com,
a site where every imaginable statistic is kept for their fans
to enjoy.

This
show was truly a treat, and it was great to have my favorite
rock stars back home. They closed out the set by
finishing
“Nothing Too Fancy” featuring Jake Cinninger’s quick fingers and
forward moving rock rifts; the show ended with the crowd begging
for more. This band never fails to impress. From the light show
to the rock anthems, perfectly composed melodies, and silly
stage antics, I don’t think I will ever get tired of seeing this
band around. Needless to say, I will be following them as they
travel across the Midwest and provide more epic rock shows for
their original fan base, because for some reason I feel like
I’ve yet to see their best.

A busy
night of music continued as I ventured toward Jake’s, a venue I
had not previously seen a show at and the setting for Lotus to
play on a frigid Wednesday evening. The evening started off
seeing Dark Star Orchestra, but I hastily made my way over to
the unfamiliar venue to see one of my favorite bands. I was
quite excited to be treated to two sets of music by the group
and once the music started my excitement built even more.
Initially, the amazingly created and well-executed new light
show quickly caught my eye and
definitely
added to the magic of the evening. Another special component of
the evening was being treated with one of the most intimate
Lotus shows I’ve seen thus far. It was truly a special treat.

Lotus
started the first set with “Massif”, a track off of their recent
studio release Build, and one which proved to supercharge
the crowd from the get go. “Golden Ghost”, a track off of their
self-titled album and one of my favorites from that release,
proved to further energize the dance hungry crowd. Both tracks
featured the booty-popping bass and dance inspiring synth
melodic dance grooves with heavy rock sounds I’ve grown to love
Lotus delivering. The heart of the first set featured the
non-stop relentlessly hard-hitting dance latent rock grooves of
the jam “Intro to a Cell>Triplet>Sunrain”. This concoction of
melodically funky yet dark electronic dance music sent the crowd
into a frenzy, leaving me bonkers, while setting the tone for
the rest of the evening. The first set ended with a bang,
featuring “Jump Off”, a fun and furious track further testing
the limits of both the music and the dancing crowd. Euphoria had
definitely settled in, leaving me and the rest of the patrons
hungry for the second set to begin.

After a
brief intermission, the second set began, and boy did it begin
with a doozy. “Bellwether” was chosen to start and surpassed
anything the band had delivered in the first set, which was
surprising given the quality of music delivered thus far.
Just when I thought my night had already been completed, Lotus
blasted me with what was by far the best series of music I’ve
seen them play in the six years following the group. This insane
concoction of non-stop playing featured: “Did Fatt>Am>Lucid
Awakening>Zelda Theme>Lucid
Awakening”.
They definitely tested the limits of the crowd with this dark
and heavy dance rock jam. This was a very special treat for any
true Lotus fan with “Zelda Theme” thrown into the mix. Also, I
was personally bestowed with something special, this being my
first time hearing the Zelda Theme played live. As a big fan of
both Lotus and the classic video game, this was merely icing on
the cake for the evening.

The second
set neared an end and Lotus delivered one last hurray, playing
the fun and funky dance track “Tip of the Tongue”. I felt
euphoric as the track tested my dancing limits and made me go
wild. The band thanked the crowd and left the stage, leaving me
for the first time joining in with the crowd roaring for an
encore. After a brief moment, Lotus reentered the stage and
began to play an encore which perfectly ended an already magical
night of music. The encore featured “The Surf” and “Scrapple”,
with the two track encore proving to be another added bonus to
the evening. I must note, I have a soft spot for “The Surf”,
given the notion that it is one of
the
few tracks featuring vocals by Lotus. It was a perfect end to a
perfect two sets of music. Lotus is one of those bands that
reaches deep within my soul and invokes a hungry fire from
within. I truly love and respect everything they produce. If you
are not familiar with the group, I highly suggest you find a
show within traveling distance and go there immediately.

Bloomington, Indiana was a busy town on Wednesday, with two
major names playing at the same time. The Lotus Experience
played right around the corner from Dark Star Orchestra. Of the
two headliners, I chose to go see the special all acoustic Dark
Star Orchestra show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

This was
my first show at the historic venue. Walking in the front lobby
I was greeted by a warm room that smelled of popcorn and guided
by a friendly, helpful staff that contrasted many of the pushy,
overbearing staff at some venues. The theater was seated with a
small pit area near the stage. The crowd was mostly older, with
some younger faces peppering the crowd. I felt very comfortable
in the cream colored room. Everyone was friendly and excited to
see this special show.

Once again Dark Star took the stage with no opening band and
little introduction. They explained the special nature of this
show, being all acoustic and a completely original set list.
They invited the crowd to come dance, as many people seemed
unsure if it was meant to be a seated show. The
opening
song “Dire Wolf” set the tone for a night of mellow deep
Grateful Dead tracks, of course with Dark Star’s own twists and
turns. This tight-knit crowd seemed to know every word of
every song, even the earliest of Grateful Dead hits like
“Operator” or Bob Dylan’s “It Takes a Lot to Laugh and a Train
to Cry.” About midway through first set, DSO threw in an
original tune called “Run Mary” featuring dynamite lead singer
Lisa Mackey’s strong and soulful voice. It was truly a treat to
see the band perform one of their own songs. They ended the
first set with a great upbeat trio of songs, “Tell it to Me”>
“Wake up Little Susie” and closing with “Rubin and Cherise.”

For me,
the first set was definitely the highlight of the show. They
really mellowed things out in the second set, opening with a Bob
Dylan tune called “Mountains of the Moon” and then “Box of
Rain.” They showed a softer side of the Grateful Dead keeping
things low key and soulful as they let their light crew
highlight the beautiful tapestry they feature at every show.
They put a spell over the crowd for the first half of the second
set. They ended on a special combination of some of my
favorite songs “Birdsong”>”Throwing Stones”> “Ripple.”

Overall,
it was an honor to see such a special and rare show. It felt
intimate and comfortable. I almost feel as though I know Dark
Star Orchestra on a better level
because
they were able to show a bit of their personality as a band due
to the smaller crowd and acoustic instruments. They closed
announcing that the setlist was an original, and everyone agreed
it had been quite a magical night.

The
Punch Brothers Live at The Brown Theatre ~ Louisville, KY ~
February 5, 2013

The Punch Brothers, a classy
group of guys that play sell out theatres across the country, is
turning a lot of heads these days. Chris Thile (formerly from
Nickel Creek)and Chris Eldridge (from the early days of
The Infamous Stringdusters) formed a band a few years ago that
has been taking this country by storm. However do not
underestimate the talent in banjo player, Noam Pikelny and
violinist, Gabe Witcher. This intriguing string band has been
known to play a Gillian Welch, Josh Ritter, John Hartford and
perhaps even a Radiohead cover. In fact the band plays
Radiohead’s “Kid A” on their most recent studio album, Who’s
Feeling Young Now?

As
I approached The Brown Theatre Tuesday evening, I was eagerly
waiting for this mind-blowing performance. I’ve had the utmost
respect for Thile since the Nickel Creek and his solo album
days, How to Grow a Woman? Thile is to mandolin as Bela
Fleck is to the banjo. Both have respect for their instruments
and play them flawlessly with great charisma. Thile would open
the first set with a flawless smooth mandolin jam in “Movement
and Location” off their most recent studio album. From there the
band would get the night roaring with a thumping bass from Paul
Kowert followed by what seemed to be a never ending jam with
Thile, Eldridge and Witcher in “Flippin,” another release off
the new album. Although the band seemed to play a lot from the
new studio album, they did however play some great crowd
favorites such as “Rye Whiskey” and “The Blind Leaving The Blind
Third Movement.” The set was so intense with great mandolin
pickin’ and beautiful violin pieces, it was difficult not to
jump out of your seat and dance.

Thile would rejoin the crowd
for an encore performance as he stood at the edge of the stage
and played a Bach piece that completely silenced the crowd and
brought goose bumps to the body. The band would rejoin Thile at
the edge of the stage for a string picking in a Kentucky
historical song, “Moonshiner.” Although their stage setup may be
simple, they play string music in it true nature. This is a
group of guys who play for the love of string music, not for
fancy stage setups.

Setlist:

Movement and Loacation,
Next to The Trash, Flippin, Who’s Feeling Young Now?, Two
Hearted, Song for a Young Queen, New York City, Missy, Piney
Woods, Patchwork Girlfriend, Hundred Dollars, Dixie Line,
The Blind Leaving The Blind Third Movement, This Girl,
Another New World*, Watch’ at Breakdown, Rye Whiskey

Dark
Star Orchestra kicked off their mid-west tour with a sold out
show in their home-town, Chicago, at the historic Vic. The line
was around the block and the Vic was packed to the brim.
It was an interesting crowd of weathered, graying Deadheads and
young, fresh faces all rushing towards the double doors to get
out of the snowy February night.

Dark
Star Orchestra (DSO) took the stage right away with no need for
introduction or opening band. I felt honored to be able to see
the show up front and personal out of the elbow to elbow crowd.
With two guitar players and two drummers, this band is a force
to be reckoned with, and is perhaps one of the most well known
Grateful Dead cover bands. They opened the marathon set list
with “Promised Land.” The crowd was excited to hear the well
known guitar rift played by talented Rob Eaton and almost
immediately the temperature in the room raised ten degrees as
everyone started dancing. By far the highlight of the first set
was the closer, a 20 minute long “Dancing in the Streets.” Lisa
Mackey channeled Donna Jean, spinning in circles, leading the
crowd through the ups and downs, bringing the first set to an
exciting close.

In my
opinion, the best was yet to come. After an extended set break,
DSO took the stage with the same level of energy they ended the
first set with. Starting with “Bertha” and transitioning to
“Good Lovin’,” they then slowed things down a notch to what
seemed like a Grateful Dead ballad, but turned out to be a slow,
sultry “Friend of the Devil” unlike any version of the song I’ve
ever heard. After putting a spell over the crowd, they kicked up
the tempo with the well known “Shakedown Street” and
transitioned into DSO’s trademark rhythmic drum breakdown which
transcends into a space jam with guitarist Jeff Matson
channeling Jerry Garcia’s vision. They captured the interest of
the crowd and took them on a transcendent journey finally
resolving into “I Need a Miracle.”

Dark
Star Orchestra was excited and honored to be in their old
stomping grounds. They encored with “Werewolves of London.” As
every voice in the crowed howled along with the band, I was
reminded of why I come to see this wonderful group of people
again and again. The music, the love, the crowd, everything was
spot on Saturday night. Dark Star closed the night saying that
this set list could have been played November 25th
1968, although it is listed on the website as an original set
list.

The
temperature in Indianapolis was frigid on the evening of Friday,
February 1st, but that didn't stop a long line of fans from
waiting outside in order to enter the Vogue. Only a truly unique
artist like Keller Williams could bring out the kind of loyal
fanbase that didn't mind confronting the cold. After a swift
entry (thanks to Indymojo) I enjoyed one of my favorite aspects
of the venue: the coat check. One cannot truly groove in a bulky
winter coat. I then headed upstairs and enjoyed the second bar
stocked with imported beer. The balcony had not yet begun to
fill, so I took a seat towards the right side and had a great
view of the stage. I did some people watching from my post and
enjoyed seeing the anticipation and delight on everyone's face.

A
barefoot Keller strolled onto the stage right on time and warmed
the crowd up with "Breathe," the title song off the album he
recorded with the String Cheese Incident. The jovial "Jack Black
of the Jam scene" twirled about the stage, gracefully on the air
of the melody he provided. Afterwards Keller played two crowd
favorites, "Cookies" and "Cadillac" off of his ninth solo album
Dream. My only criticism of the evening was the next
cover tune he played, "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Although this is
a classic song (especially from an Indiana girl), it reminded me
of how similar some of Keller's sets can tend to be. It would be
interesting to see Keller change up some of his cover tunes and
really surprise some of us repeat show goers. However, with that
being said, I have never seen a bad show from the one man band
and the second set just got even better.

After a
short setbreak he took the stage again and played the Indiana
staple, "Gate Crashers Suck." The entire crowd joined in to sing
every word, enthusiastically shouting the expletives the song is
famous for. Hoosier fans have accepted this tune as their own
anthem due to an unfortunate incident at a Noblesville Grateful
Dead show that some witnessed but all remember. No matter how
many times he plays it for us, it's still almost expected to be
on the setlist. My
favorite
moment of the whole evening was the encore. Keller played my
favorite song, "Celebrate Your Youth", again from the album
Dream. This mellow, yet upbeat song was the perfect ending
to another great experience from Keller Williams.

The Bluebird started to fill up
as the time passed until Future Rock would take the stage. The
wait was fun with Manic Focus providing some awesome grooves
slowly taking shape and gaining energy over the course of his
set. The headliner, Future Rock is made up of three men: Felix
Moreno (bass), Mickey Kellerman (keyboards & synthesizers), and
Darren Heitz (drums).

The show was one long set as
opposed to two sets in length. They got the ball rolling through
the first couple tunes, “Tranzmission>Jam>FM1000”, weaving them
seamlessly together. Felix really let loose on the bass while
keyboards and drums kept a good pace. “Nights” and “Midnight
Madness”, from their latest albums Nights and One Day
(2011), kept the
beat
alive with subtle changes creating a flow which at times soared
into the unknown and beyond. “Pathfinder” gave the dance party a
breather with ambience while the focus was kept on keyboards and
drums. It eventually drifted into “Ode to a Droid”, which
immediately brought the energy of the show back with a driving
bass and drum beat. Synthesizers ruled this song with peaks and
valleys while still keeping with the fast pace beat. “Spark”
then created a robotic feel throughout most of its slot with its
simple bass and drum beat with a slowly changing
keyboards/synthesizers line, also simplistic in nature. Out of
the shadows of “Spark” came a bass line pulling the jam back
into a tight knit groove, “Pyramid”. Every piece of the band was
playing off each other phenomenally, migrating the beat from
drum to bass to keyboards almost effortlessly. “Airplane Train
Tracks” began with a repeating synthesizer line swelling and
decreasing before bass took over and took it to a level not
reached previously in the show. “Airplane” then turned into “One
Day” which ended the show in a nice, chill fashion. Subtle
changes in the music
controlled
this tune and sent everyone home with a smile.

The lighting for the show was
very cool. Blue, red, and green lights were used to capture the
rising and falling of each song. The color changes corresponding
to sounds coming off stage were spot on, staying right with
tempo of the music as well as changing when a keyboard line,
bass line, or drum beat would take over its part in the song.

Saturday January 12th a large,
diverse crowd of twenty-somethings up to mid 50‘s gathered at
the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis, Indiana to see headliner,
Grace Potter and The Nocturnals and opener, Langhorne Slim & The
Law.

The headliner, Grace Potter and The
Nocturnals is a band originally from Vermont. The headlining
band features a strong and talented female vocalist and
musician, Grace Potter. Grace is known for her energetic stage
presence as well as her bold and bluesy voice. Her band, the
Nocturnals, has a distinct sound that is a great fusion of indie
and rock n’ roll.

Langhorne Slim & The Law set the tone for
the night with their Indie and rock fusion sound lead by banjo
melodies and bluesy singer Langhorn Slim. Langhorn’s rough and
weathered voice complimented his experienced based lyrics and
enthusiastic stage presence. The four piece band got the
crowd on their feet and moving with their up-beat feel good
music. Langhorn Slim & The Law set the perfect atmosphere for
the high-energy rock band to follow.

Grace Potter took the stage and began,
boldly, by showing off her strong voice, opening with “Nothing
but the Water.” As her voice filled the Egyptian Room, I was
reminded of one of my favorite female singers, Janis Joplin.
Her powerful voice accompanied only by her tambourine playing,
rang through the theater and brought a feeling of nostalgia.
Grace held nothing back in this first song as she belted out the
somber lyrics and made every head in the room turn her way.
She then switched to something a little bit more up tempo called
“Hot Summer Night,” only to mention that this show was an all
request show. Grace Potter made it clear Saturday night that she
was very excited to be in Indianapolis and very proud to be
playing exactly the set list that all of her fans wanted to
hear. She took the crowd through ups and downs, switching
from bluesy songs featuring mainly Grace’s voice to more
instrumental tunes, closing the set with their latest single
“The Lion The Beast The Beat” and the single from their earlier
album “Paris (Ohh La La).” Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
closed the show with a three song encore ending in the
well-known Rolling Stone’s song “Paint it Black,” which was a
perfect way to end the night.